American Culture Needs More 'Whiplash'
Vivek Ramaswamy’s critique of American culture ignited a firestorm on X — and people are taking away the wrong lessons from the exchanges.
In Ramaswamy’s post, he nodded to the 2014 film Whiplash, a psychological thriller about expectations and ambition through the lens of jazz. Andrew Neiman, an aspiring young drummer, has a musical passion that is challenged by the torment of his instructor, Terrence Fletcher. While sadistic in tone, Whiplash demonstrates the character needed to excel in today’s competitive world and one we must adopt to save our culture.
Vivek’s mention of Whiplash diagnoses a national culture he sees as open to mediocrity. In the last fifteen years, the concept of “American greatness” has been redefined and applied by many to the point where its general meaning becomes unclear. There are always debates on recognizing individual talent in various areas—just look at recent clashes over education, parenting, and immigration—so skilled people can contribute to the nation’s rich tapestry of arts, sciences, and politics.
Whiplash represents the underbelly of this practice at its extreme. Fletcher demolishes Neiman’s confidence in a trial of emotional and physical trauma that he knows will make Neiman a legendary musician. Despite the abuse, this culture of ruthless criticism and perfectionism hardens Nieman’s heart and empowers him to chase the mastery of his craft. In the process, he sacrifices everything—including close relationships and dignity—to, paradoxically, become more like the teacher he detests. Fletcher demanded excellence no matter the cost and broke Neiman down to resurrect him in his likeness.
Like Ramaswamy’s message, Whiplash is a cautionary tale. Americans must continue to innovate, inspire, and be the leading role model for the world with our greatness. If not, rivals like China would only accelerate their quest to dominate and threaten our success, as Ramaswamy notes.
But Whiplash conveys that if potential genius is driven to madness or death for vainglory, it blinds us to the nuances and blessings that enrich our culture. Pursuing something greater is noble, but it need not be self-destructive. The cost of excellence may not be worth forgoing the happiness, humanity, and liberties that make American culture so attractive to citizens and foreigners alike.
When Ramaswamy suggests we need “[m]ore movies like Whiplash,” he does not want Americans to become slaves to the grind like Neiman or overbearingly rigid like Fletcher. He endorses the determination and ability to push through adversity whilst acknowledging our individual limits. Excellence must come from a place of purpose and discipline for us to enjoy our achievements and continue progressing. National greatness is the sum of its parts, and we must encourage constructive environments to help us reach lofty goals without the fear of burning out.
Above all, Whiplash is a film about controlling luck to overcome unpredictability and reach the top. Italian diplomat Niccolò Machiavelli spoke on this subject in his seminal work, The Prince, arguing that the most effective rulers can influence fortuna, or fate, with decisiveness and expertise.
Neiman embodies the principle of virtù, or skill. He does not wait for a chance to fall into his lap but actively molds his future through willpower and calculated risk-taking. He believes in his agency, bides his time practicing drums, and seizes any opportunity to maximize his outcomes.
Like Ramaswamy, Fletcher believes in a competitive, high-stakes world, but the latter manipulates the system rather than creating fortuna. He pits his students against each other, hurls chairs at them, and engineers events to make students prove their worth, believing that greatness emerges under pressure. These are intentional acts to eliminate the possibility of error in the students’ performances, which Fletcher thinks will make his teaching environment the most prestigious.
If fortune favors the bold, American greatness and its culture require robust participation from its citizens. The story of America and its culture was forged by pioneers, those who understood the interplay and consequences of virtù and fortuna. They, like Machiavelli, knew that even the most talented people could be undone by circumstances beyond their control (this theme appears near Whiplash’s final act). Yet, defeat is not permanent but an essential tool for growth and lasting impact.
Whiplash teaches Americans that the road to mastery and winning culture is paved with imperfection. It demands that we learn from our setbacks with humility and shift our perspective toward a more empathetic approach to achievement. A truly excellent culture is continuous and thrives on our self-compassion, creativity, and resolve. Greatness is not sustained with complacency but earned with action, and we owe it to our culture to give it true meaning and keep it exceptional.
Everybody is capable of incredible feats; it just takes the right conditions for them to come about. It is the revolutionary spirit Whiplash and Ramaswamy hope American culture will rediscover and one that will keep its greatness.
Alex Rosado is a Professional Programs Assistant at the Alexander Hamilton Society. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official views or positions of the Alexander Hamilton Society. Follow him on Twitter/X at @Alexprosado.
