Julian Assange's Dance Footage And The Rite Of Public Humiliation

Thanks to the Internet, we now know that Julian Assange dances pretty much exactly as you imagine him dancing. Like a guy who describes himself as possessing “a conversational brutality” that took one woman’s “breath away,” and who believes that “Western culture seems to forge women that are valueless and inane.” Let’s conclude that he seems to enjoy himself and being alone in that space very much.

The DJ who leaked the video explained to Forbes, “I found his ability to let go on the dance floor very inspiring and I thought it would be interesting to let other people see it and make up their mind about his dancing.”

Whatever you think of his moves, few things seem more exposing, or ripe for mockery, than videos of public figures dancing. (Okay, sex talk is worse. Worse still: “I am wearing you.” Allegedly!) In an ideal world, everyone would get down without any fear of cameraphone or more low-tech sneering. In practice, Julian Assange joins a distinguished tradition of dorky dance videos that either humanize or induce further scorn.

It helps if the person is relatively dignified and stoic in their public life, which is why David Gergen’s fully-committed moves at a Davos party were infinitely better than Sarah Palin’s shoulder shimmy.

GIFSoup We already knew she was ridiculous.

There is, unfortunately, no video of this event.

The presidential dance footage usually involves a form of voluntary self-humiliation in the name of Keeping It Real or goodwill diplomacy. This is Bush dancing at an event to fight malaria.

And here’s Obama in India. Turn that flail into a handshake, Mr. President. Nicely done.