CNN’s Awkward Attempt to Decipher Gen Z SlangCNN’s Awkward Attempt to Decipher Gen Z Slang Amidst the ongoing generational divide, politicians face the challenge of connecting with diverse audiences without alienating any. This issue was highlighted in a recent segment on CNN’s “In Charge” program, where the hosts attempted to analyze Kamala Harris’s branding strategy targeting Gen Z. In a puzzling exchange, special correspondent Jamie Gangel and co-hosts struggled to make sense of Harris’s adoption of the term “brat” from singer Charli xcx’s album. According to Gangel, “brat” refers to someone who is “messy, likes to party, and maybe says stupid stuff sometimes.” Host Jake Tapper expressed bewilderment, noting that the term seemed to suggest that Harris was depicting herself as a “spoiled kid” or “brat.” However, Gangel maintained that Harris was simply “speaking to them (Gen Z) in their own language.” The segment drew criticism for its apparent lack of understanding of Gen Z culture. Critics argued that Harris’s branding was likely to alienate potential voters by creating the impression that she was out of touch with their values. Moreover, it was noted that the term “brat” does not accurately capture the complexities of Gen Z’s sensibilities, which include a balance of confidence, independence, and a willingness to embrace chaos. The episode highlighted the challenges that politicians face in trying to appeal to younger generations without offending others. It also raised questions about the media’s ability to accurately represent and interpret youth culture.
With the views of each generation increasingly divided, politics has become entangled in the very real question of how to appeal to all audiences, how to do so without isolating one, and especially without ostracizing the other. This problem was perfectly demonstrated in the Monday afternoon segment of CNN’s In chargewhile host Jake Tapper and his co-hosts attempted to analyze the new Harris branding with a focus on Gen Z.
In another objectively embarrassing demonstration, special correspondent Jamie Gangel and the CNN clan attempted to make sense of and promote the new name of Harris’ campaign headquarters, drawing on singer Charli xcx’s hit summer album “brat” (click to expand):
TAPPER: In regards to her album called “Brat.” Kamala has branded her Kamala HQ Twitter page with the same aesthetic from the album. That’s another Gen Z word, aesthetic. It’s even trending on TikTok.
Jamie Gangel, special correspondent for Generation Z, what else can you tell us about this?
GANGEL: So, first of all, just from my producer, Elizabeth Stewart, who’s spitting out her coffee as I say this, I should say, “That’s BRAT.” And for those who aren’t — aren’t in the know, like me, that’s cool. It has a color. Chartreuse is the color, and Kamala Harris has adopted that for whatever social media page that is.
But I took some notes because I knew you would give the definition I wanted. Okay, here we go. Charli xcx, who I know, “Brat. You’re just that girl who’s a little messy and likes to party. And maybe says stupid stuff sometimes.”
As the ridiculous jokes continued, one visibly confused tapper concluded that “the point is… whether it’s her or some very smart people who work for her, who are speaking directly for them (Gen Z) in their own language, which apparently no one at this table speaks.”
What Tapper didn’t comment on was the fact that Harris shot himself in the foot with this rebranding. The inability to understand the mode of sensibility that was “brat” had two causes.
First, and what should be an obvious criticism, this rebranding was not understood by the majority of Americans. By embracing “brat,” Harris was able to turn off potential voters with this new understanding of her brand, isolating her campaign from that of the younger generation.
Second, Kamala Harris is simply not a “child.”
In the book by writer Susan Sontag Notes on “Camp” published in 1964, When discussing the dual sensibility of “brat,” she argues that “to talk about ‘Camp’ is to betray.” This is true of both forms of aestheticism, for just as you can’t hold an idea in your hand, you can’t fully explain these sensibilities.
That said, the confidence and air possessed by those with the “brat” conscience, as Charlie xcx puts it, is “messy.” Since the album focuses on the clubbing lifestyle, “brat” is less uniform and more waking up after a night out still in your makeup, less about serious nature and more confidently living in the chaos of life, less presidential and more confidently messy. Acceptable to most, but not to the leader of our country.
If this “brat” statement was uttered by the Vice President, the media would have to be a little more concerned.
The transcript is below, click “expand” to read:
CNN The Lead with Jake Tapper
23-07-2024
16:21:28 hrs EST(…)
JAKE TAPPER: And Jamie, I also want to talk a little bit about the appeal this has to Gen Z.
JAMIE GANGEL: That’s a logical question.
TAPPER: That’s a logical question for you.
(LAUGHTER)
(CROSSTALK)
GANGEL: I’m here today specifically for this question.
KAITLAN COLLINS: Our biggest bitch.
TAPPER: So, I — just for the record, I was tipped off to this. What I’m going to share with our voters — our viewers earlier through my 16-year-old —
GANGEL: Who is really a member —
TAPPER: Who’s a real member of Gen Z? Kamala Harris seems to be tapping into this. Singer Charli XCX tweeted last night, “Kamala is Brat.”
This is a reference to her album called “Brat.” Kamala has branded her Kamala HQ Twitter page with the same aesthetic from the album. That’s another Gen Z word, aesthetic. It’s even trending on TikTok.
Jamie Gangel, special correspondent for Generation Z, what else can you tell us about this?
GANGEL: So, first of all, just from my producer, Elizabeth Stewart, who’s spitting out her coffee as I say this, I should say, “That’s BRAT.” And for those who aren’t — aren’t in the know, like me, that’s cool. It has a color. Chartreuse is the color, and Kamala Harris has adopted that for whatever social media page that is.
But I took some notes because I knew you would give the definition I wanted. Okay, here we go. Charli XCX, who I know, “Brat. You’re just that girl who’s a little messy and likes to party. And maybe says some dumb shit sometimes.”
TAPPER: So, the idea is that we’re all kind of spoiled kids and Vice President Harris is a spoiled kid. I don’t think —
(CROSSTALK)
COLLINS: I don’t know if you’re a brat. I think you inspire being a brat, Jake. You don’t just become a brat.
TAPPER: Okay.
COLLINS: You’ve got to try it.
GANGEL: You can work on it.
TAPPER: I’ll — I’ll strive for a brat. I’ll strive.
But the point is that she — whether it’s her or some very smart people who work for her — is standing up for them right there in their own language, which apparently no one at this table speaks.
GANGEL: To quote another generation.
(Collins gestures to draw attention to himself)
TAPPER: Except you (pointing to Collins), you still think you’re 23.
GANGEL: Maybe this is your generation. They’re going to —
COLLINS: I come closest.
TAPPER: You’re a millennial, take it easy.
GANGEL: So you’re telling me that this is correct, that she’s going to claim it.
TAPPER: She’s going to admit it.
GANGEL: Take it over.
TAPPER: Well, I mean, the truth is, at 59, she’s the youngest candidate in the race, and Donald Trump is now the oldest living presidential candidate ever in the United States.
CHALIAN: That’s true. We did this partly with her first run, the “K hive,” if you will. She had a huge social media presence five years ago when she was running unsuccessfully.
TAPPER: Yeah, but it didn’t help much.
CHALIAN: It didn’t do her election results much good, but she did have that kind of access to this world. And I think it’s going to be turbo-charged for this now.
TAPPER: Okay, thanks, everybody. Hang on, you little shits.
(…)
