Building A Character: The Phenomena of Sarah Palin

TLC, that wacky network full of television shows about unconventional families, has gotten a new mom addicted to celebrity (sorry, Kate). "Sarah Palin's Alaska" is a documentary series about the home state of the former Governor. But just in case you never let the dial leave Fox News, you will still have the opportunity to see your favorite wolf killer: she's on that network, too. But what if you don't have cable? Don't worry, she's on Entertainment Tonight, Inside Edition, and your evening news at least every week. Don't own a TV? She's in the papers and has a book out. If it seems Palin is everywhere, it's because she is. How Palin has kept her self relevant after losing her bid for Vice President is a lesson to all who long for celebrity status. Let us borrow the three steps from Stanislavski's theory of acting: An Actor Prepares, Building a Character, and Creating a Role.


An Actor Prepares

Sarah Palin was not prepared for the '08 campaign in any conventional way. Her speeches rambled. She botched interviews ("In what respect, Charlie?"). But the building blocks for a successful political career were there, even for someone with a questionable educational background and little grasp of world events. That is, she possessed the right amount of charisma to render her shortcomings irrelevant. With a wink and a well placed joke, Palin skyrocketed to stardom. She knew what to do. She knew she was something rarer than a pink unicorn: a reasonably attractive woman in Washington. The power was in her hands.

Building a Character

She launched her bid for stardom at the Republican National Convention, a physical stage and spotlight but also a metaphorical one. Sauntering onto the stage in a power suit that said "I mean business, but I'm also really cute," Palin began her assault on Obama and his voters, as well as Progressives, Liberals, logic, humanity, and probably puppies. The inevitable backlash from the aforementioned groups only fueled the fire, the fire that heated the combustion engine of the Palinmobile. And that was her genius in building a character: woman as victim. There's nothing Republicans love more than victimizing themselves, and this time they had a double-whammy. Palin could claim herself as the recipient of unfair treatment because of her gender and her political persuasions. Her followers would empathize, and grow angry in her defense. Another essential step, and perhaps the most useful, was making sure Joe Six-Pack (and Suzie Box-of-Wine?) could identify with her. She went about this by making herself out to be the average working mom, albeit one whose motto seemed to be "I'll shoot the dinner and cook it too!" Hence her nickname Caribou Barbie. She wasn't a career woman like, say, Hilary Clinton. She wasn't about power or anything remotely threatening. She just held certain beliefs (i.e. global warming doesn't exist) and thought there should be policies implementing these beliefs. And if America chose her to do it-- well, why not? Her everywoman appeal assured voters that she was no threat, and was in fact speaking for them. It excused her lack of preparation. And if little factoids were released-- for example, the thousands spent on her wardrobe-- they were quickly deflected by a brilliant publicity machine, only reconfirming her status as victim. Sarah Palin had built a character, someone specific enough to have opinions but vague enough that you could impress your own opinions on the Rorschach.

Creating a Role

The Conservative movement knew they needed a hero. McCain was lacking in almost every possible department, and since Bush was on his way out with lower approval ratings than Nixon, a savior was longed for. Along came Palin, perfect for the part. She had her character homework done, and now all she needed was the music and the mirror and a chance to dance for you. In the role of Concerned Mom, Sarah Palin. In the role of Victimized Conservative, Sarah Palin. But after the election loss (the Obama win was a mandate), she had to create for herself a new role, if it was not to be Vice President. She carved out a niche for herself in the 24-hour news cycle, refusing to go away like a case of H1N1. She "wrote" a book, providing her audience with what might be their first trip to a bookstore. Her latest role? Talking (Pretty Little) Head. It doesn't seem to matter what she says, what she disregards, or how she chooses to pursue her climb to high status-celeb. Sarah Palin's ultimate role is now this: superstar.