The Importance of Critical Engagement with Pop Culture

In this week's episode, I have my first co-host of season 5, Crystal Andrews! Crystal is a writer, author, and the founder & editor of feminist news publication, Zee Feed. But most importantly, Crystal is a Swiftie. Off the back of the Eras Tour in Sydney (which we both attended, twice), Crystal and I explore how Taylor Swift built such a culty fandom and why the Swifties feel so protective of their fave.

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Timestamps:

6:18: History of Swiftie Nation

19:00 Zee Feed newsletter that inspired this episode

30:52 Explaining the mentality of a Swiftie

40:33 How do Swifties project their protection of Taylor Swift?

48:05 How the 2009 VMAs changed the trajectory of pop culture and thus the direction of Taylor Swift’s career

56:10 The consequences of being unable to critique Taylor Swift without backlash

Resources:

https://zeefeed.beehiiv.com/p/eras-tour-geological-layer-rubbish 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rf9ZDEEvuog&t=2296s&ab_channel=ArtsUnimelb 

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/feb/21/scoop-taylor-swift-eats-in-restaurant-and-we-missed-the-story 

https://www.thedailybeast.com/taylor-swift-remains-silent-as-fans-doxx-and-harass-music-critic-over-folkore-review 

https://www.businessinsider.com/harassment-taylor-swift-fan-base-worse-than-far-right-hate-2023-6 

https://theoutline.com/post/8484/sore-winners-decade