The Picture Perfect Democratic Convention - Part 2
In part two of my visual round-up of the 2024 DNC, I look at the wooing of the middle class, the visibility of the Uncommitted delegates, the rush of the Content Creators, and the tweaking of Trump.
While Part 1 focused on the Democratic National Convention's overarching themes of change, inclusion, and patriotism, this installment looks at pictures illustrating Democrats' strategic messaging to court the middle class and engage younger voters through digital-first tactics while navigating internal tensions over Palestine and sharpening visual attacks on Trump.
The Great and Coveted Middle
The central battleground in the race for the White House is the heart, minds, and votes of the middle class, with Democrats highlighting Trump's allegiance to the wealthy and his patronizing of the center. The convention laser-focused on middle-income individuals and families, particularly blue-collar workers and organized labor.
This tweet by Gwen Walz also exemplifies how the campaign masterfully executes its social strategy and drives the folksy Walz narrative.
She shared this the morning after Barack Obama praised "Coach Walz" at the convention, saying: "You can tell those flannel shirts he wears don't come from some political consultant; they come from his closet, and they have been through some stuff."
Mark Peterson/Redux for New York Magazine.
The convention was also thrilled as former Walz’s Mankato West High School football team members marched onto the convention stage to honor their coach. This view of Number 72 is an absolute touchdown among the many versions of the scene.
Previously, I focused on the Democrats wrestling back the patriotic narrative with large doses of the American flag. If you’re a fan of news photos that strongly drive intersecting themes, this photo of union workers waving Old Glory is a twofer. In terms of composition, you can’t beat the upward gaze and the alignment of the three right arms.
In one of my favorite photos from the Convention, Kenneth Jarecke captures a barkeep at the United Center during AOC’s speech in which she emphasizes her working-class background as a waitress and bartender. I can’t tell if he’s watching as she relates that experience, but the pic compels you to think so.
Gaza Protests and the Uncommitted
Tens of thousands flooded Chicago's streets, primarily protesting U.S. policy toward Israel and the devastating toll on Palestinian lives and infrastructure in Gaza. Adam Gray's photo masterfully captures the tension between protesters and the Harris campaign. The protester's sidelong glance at the campaign gear symbolizes the chasm between the Democratic establishment and those demanding a shift in U.S. policy towards Gaza.
The street demonstrations ultimately overshadowed the more nuanced friction between the pro-Palestine Uncommitted delegates and the Harris campaign and convention organizers. Both sides seemed reluctant to jeopardize Harris's momentum or generate negative headlines, creating a delicate balancing act within the convention walls.
Besides highlighting the group’s determination, Caroline Brehman’s portrait of a delegate in her hijab, keffiyeh, and "Not Another Bomb" button is a visual statement of her cause. Although they were granted limited access to the convention process, the Uncommitted maintained their visibility. Besides a panel on Palestinian human rights, they persuaded over 300 Harris delegates to pledge support for a ceasefire and garnered support from prominent progressive leaders from the main stage.
The stand-off pushed into Thursday as the pro-Palestinian delegates continued to call for a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to U.S. military aid to Israel. The political backdrop heightened this pivotal moment: With the immediate priority being the defeat of Donald Trump, Uncommitted delegates rejoined the convention for the culmination of the convention and Harris’s acceptance speech. At the same time, their collective entry, heads held high, symbolized their ongoing resolve to make an impact.
Infotainment Old and New
As Alan Chin represents, political celebrity, dress-up, and cultural kitsch reign eternal. At the same time, however, the convention producers had other ideas to engage an entertainment-addled and attention-span-challenged citizenry.
This image's blurred line between indoor and outdoor settings reflects the increasingly complex interplay of video screens and the reimagining of traditional political rituals. It captures the DNC's innovative approach to the roll call of states, transforming it into theatrical cameos and musical tributes to each locale.
In this particular moment, we see Rapper Lil Jon, a Georgia native, performing his hits as he joins the Georgia delegation for their turn to announce their votes.
Props to the props?
The DNC was also clever about grafting the event with the best features of an entertainment or award show. One of the most successful segments involved sketches roasting the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025. The ultra-conservative roadmap certainly got a workout. Here, it is captured mid-air as comedian Kenan Thompson acts out his regard from the podium on Wednesday night.
The Content Creators
This DNC broke with tradition in a way that it hadn’t before—at least, not since the 2008 convention in Denver when it invited and conveyed special journalist status on writers from the political blogosphere. I know because I was one of them.
This time, the Democratic National Convention witnessed a passionate fusion of politics and social media culture, as over 200 digital communicators, ranging from TikTok stars to YouTube personalities, were granted exceptional access to the convention floor and political figures.
The streamers generated and drew significant media attention for their presence. Media coverage ranged from lighthearted to skeptical, understandably so, as journalists felt the competition for eyeballs. Harsher commentators complained that the convention had traded substance for style and democracy for dopamine hits. They posited that followers had become the new donors, "likes" the new votes, and viral posts the new stump speeches.
However, this surface-level interpretation misses the deeper significance of the DNC's strategy as the Dems got wise that young Americans are more likely to get political opinions from a 22-year-old with a ring light than from an online news site.
This image of a creator wearing a friendship bracelet adorned with the acronym "YTYJFOACT" is an excellent example of the youngs transforming political messaging into relatable content.
Queuing a powerful experience of cultural synthesis, the quote from Kamala Harris's mother (“You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?”) became a breakout meme after Harris became the defacto nominee. It demonstrates how young people dial into a more poetic sensibility in which rhythm and play, the cryptic and the obtuse, and serendipity elicit a wellspring of new and known narratives in the cultural landscape that can also engage voters in ways traditional media cannot.
Far from just fun and memes, this photo is an excellent example of influencers getting down to business, conducting interviews, sharing informative content, actively engaging their followers in political discourse—and, yes, giving legacy news media even more to worry about.
I can only say that Olivia Julianna is the bomb—360k Twitter followers worth. Part of a new breed of political activists, she is pictured in action after speaking at the DNC.
Watch out, Ted Cruz!
Tweaking Trump (and a Caution)
While Trump was a constant target throughout the convention, his actual image was carefully curated. One striking exception was a video frame showing Trump at a defense table during one of his trials. This carefully selected picture—depicting a glum and slumped Trump with officers looming behind him, hands on their belts—reinforced the portrayal of Trump as a criminal rather than a political rival.
One of the most visceral moments of the convention involved the appearance of the “Central Park Five.” Four of the exonerated men - including New York City Councilman Yusef Salaam - took the stage during primetime on the convention's final night. The pain and poignancy were inescapable when, in addition to addressing their wrongful conviction and subsequent exoneration, they condemned Donald Trump for calling for their execution in 1989 and his continued refusal to apologize even after DNA evidence proved their innocence.
Kamala Harris and Tim Walz made a bold move by flying to Wisconsin and holding a massive rally at Milwaukee's Fiserv Forum the same night the Obamas addressed the Democratic Convention. This strategic choice was particularly significant as Fiserv Forum had hosted the Republican National Convention just weeks earlier.
By filling the same venue with their supporters, Harris and Walz effectively threw down a gauntlet at Trump, suggesting that for every stadium he filled, they could fill two. The move delivered a pointed rebuke to Trump's fixation on crowd sizes and dramatically underscored the campaign’s energy and momentum.
As we conclude our visual journey through the 2024 Democratic National Convention, it is crucial to step back from the spectacle and polished production for a moment of reflection. Despite the air of triumph and unity, a sobering reality lurks beneath the surface.
Nate Gowdy's poignant photograph captures a stark message from the Teleprompter during Joe Biden's speech, serving as a jarring reminder: even if Trump loses, his concession is far from guaranteed. Like a sudden power loss amidst the seemingly picture-perfect proceedings, this image stands as a significant warning against complacency.
If you missed Part 1 of my DNC visual round-up, I explore the pivot from Biden, Dems laying claim to the flag, women's empowerment in Harris's rise, and family, inclusion, and generational change. Check it out here.
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all great, but can't beat that Mother Jones shot!