In this regard, under the leadership of former President Donald Trump, the cultural landscape of the United States has undergone a radical transformation. Consequently, we’ve lost many resonant voices that used to reverberate around the globe. The rich and ugly backdrop of Stephen Sondheim’s haunts-of-the-past classic “Follies” is the perfect metaphor for this decline. The U.S. used to be the world’s bastion of creativity and free expression. Now, with major challenges ahead, such as the rise of authoritarianism, the shrinking of democratic rights, and a growing threat to marginalized communities, particularly that of LGBTQIA+ people.
From the very beginning, “Follies” has been a profound and sometimes painful reflection of the dreams and realities of American life. In recent years, the cultural conversation around the arts has been hijacked. Federal policies are catching up to Trump’s agenda. Consequently, Australian universities have seen significant funding withdrawn from projects not aligned with this politicised course. This has had a drastic, self-censoring impact on academic freedom and cultural exploration, both imperative ingredients in a democratic society.
As many observers have noted, this was a real turnabout by the United States. A city long regarded as a trailblazer for democratic rights, it now finds itself under siege for these very ideals. Reports indicate that it can no longer boast of upholding the rule of law or fostering an environment where statements of fact are valued. The ongoing erosion of these core rights should alarm anyone who cares about free speech and expression in America.
The anti-LGBTQIA+ rot has spread It’s getting worse for LGBTQIA+ Australians who might want to fly to the U.S. to escape bigotry here. One commissioner Joe Ball, the Victorian LGBTQIA+ commissioner, has gone as far as to warn queers to stay away from America, because of these risks. Under Trump, the U.S. put forth policies that are largely seen as antagonistic to LGBTQIA+ rights. This change fostered a climate of fear and distrust among those who fall under the LGBTQ+ umbrella.
Our U.S. justice system is in a crisis that should concern us all. Now it replicates some of the real-world implications of those dystopian futures depicted in genre-defining Hollywood experiences such as “The V Series” and “Escape from New York.” Events such as the forced removal of these people into supermax jails present a profound crisis in morality toward human rights within the country. Rumors claim that foreign scholars are being denied entry because of their political beliefs, and past experiences indicate that such claims may be true. One notable example was a French academic who was turned away at the U.S. border due to anti-Trump sentiment located on his phone.
According to one of our Australian colleagues, many Australian scholars are reconsidering their role in conferences held in the United States. These threats of personal safety and challenges to academic freedom have increased dramatically. Consequently, upcoming travel to the U.S. for professional contracts has almost disappeared. This unfortunate trend makes it much harder on individual academics. It jeopardizes creative collaboration across national borders, so important for cultural vibrancy and scholarly innovation.
These recent events go to show that America is no longer a promised land. Those fleeing on its principles or artistic promise would find safety in this place elusive. Winning back this international goodwill starts with dispelling the idea that the U.S. has given up on recognizing and valuing democratic rights. These countries had seen America as a lighthouse of progress, democracy and freedom.