Taylor Swifts Persona through the eyes of philosophy: icon, cultural shooter and leader | Texas A & M University-San Antonio

Taylor Swift, the most influential artist and culturally significant entertainer, has the power to make changes, but promotes white female feminism. A philosophy trainer from New Mexico State University said on April 23 at Trinity University.

Trinity organized his annual seminar of Lennox Lecture Series. Taylor Swift and Queere Politics: Parasocial expectations and exceptions ”L.Ed von Dr. Ley Cray.

This year's topic for the seminar was Taylor Swift as a literary and recording artist. This was the fourth and last lecture of this year's series of seminars.

“I don't identify myself as Swiftie,” said Cray. “My goal for today is to be a feminist killoy for all of you.”

Cray quoted a quote from Sarah Ahmed, author of “The Promise of Glück” from 2010, who thought about the “feminist killoy” as someone who destroys people's joy by identifying sexism or revealing negative feelings that are hidden with public signs. ”

Ahmed also wondered whether anger about sexism already exists or whether it is brought to the surfaceWhen someone reveals it.

The lecture did not speak about Taylor Swift as a private individual, but as an iconic and influential public figure, which was designed as a “social and media object”.

Cray explained a performance persona as a cultivated mask that is attracted to performance purposes, and there are times when you can see the construction of the persona.

In the 2020 Netflix documentary “Miss Americana”, Taylor Swift Talks With her father and her colleagues about their public criticism of Donald. J Trump and the counter reaction that can come with the pronouncement.

“I really hope that it actually does something,” said Swift in the documentary. “I feel 200 pounds easier.”

Swift negotiates about your public person and the inclusion of these scenes in the documentary are part of the construction of the persona.

Cray explained the queer policy with quotations that explain what Queer can be.

Cray contained a quote from Bell Hooks' podium discussion from 2014 “Are you still a slave? Liberation of the black female body.” Hooks said “Queer” was not only defined as a sex partner, but by identifying yourself in contrast to everything and finding “a place to speak and thrive and live”.

Cray also quoted José Esteban Muñoz, author of “Cruising Utopia”, who said the Queenness rejects the current state and examines the potential for an alternative world.

“Now I don't know anything about all of you. I find these words deeply moving, this is a world that makes it extremely dangerous for some of us.” Said Cray. “The queerness project is building a future in which we have a home.”

Cray also found that the understanding of sexism requires understanding of racism.

Cray described the difference between parasocial relationships (PR) and mass parasocial relationships (MPR): The former is an asymmetrical non-conspicuous relationship between a person and a public figure. The latter is a collection of (PR) with a public figure and a mass quantity of supporters. Usually the public figure has no personal contact with the masses.

Swift and Swifties have curated a parasocial connection that consider some friendship due to the specialist knowledge of Swift in the creation and maintenance of MPR. She does this through her song writing, denominational interviews, personal interactive performance and encourages her audience to interact with teasers and information.

“Leave small traces of things that the fans follow, to feel closer and closer and better connected, but also with her,” said Cray. “Despite the fact that they have never met them and Taylor does not know who they are.”

Fast Has a lot of power, a massive influential figure and great responsibility, not to damage its followers and the people of MPR.

Cray said her lecture was an answer to a proposal for a philosophy conference last year. The. The proposal made the hypothesis that Swift serves as a model for women and girls in their masses parasocial relationships.

Swift donates for charitable purposes such as schools, libraries, hospitals, individual gofundme efforts and has entitled the LGBTQIA+ community in the past.

“She has no concerns that in the broadest sense she supports a broad unit called LGBTQIA+ community,” said Cray. “So, yes, feminist icon, she satisfies her imperfect duty, in view of her position of position in the mass parasocial relationship in this way.”

Swift published “The Tortured Poets Department” and blocked Charli XCX from the admission of No. 1 in the British Music Charts. Swift's re -publication of your songs makes it the same time other women have no opportunity to reach the top of the charts, said Cray.

“It is a way to manipulate the market. So if we are feminist and try to help the girls, it is a strange way to do it,” said Cray.

Cray said Swift acts as a controlled opposition by increasing the “straight” agenda, maintaining capitalist values ​​and preserving the commercial and political attractiveness by generalized, not specific support of “LGBTQIA+ PEOPLE”.

“It is not controversial to say that I support the LGBTQIA+, but if you are interested in transkinder, you say that you are interested in trans children, and so far she has not done that,” said Cray. “Why? Because this is generic, this love is love, that is the capitalism of the Rainbow Store in the department store, that is target activism, this is actually not an attitude for endangered marginalized people.

“It also contributes disproportionately to the continued climate crisis that affects disproportionately people, including women and girls in the global south through their intentionally oversized CO2 footprint”, “ Said Cray.

“I will also say that until this date you remain about the continued genocide of the Palestinian people, including the mass and crime slaughter of innocent women and children,” said Cray.

“Don't say that you support women when they are slaughtered thousands, thousands and thousands and thousands of women every day,” said Cray. “You can say that you support white women, but do not say that they support women.”

Cray quoted a quote from Elie Wiesel, who said the team was essential to help the victims. Be neutral and silent incentive operating injuries remain.

“When Taylor looks at the Construct I Would say guilty, guilty and guilty, ”said Cray.

Ultimately, it promotes white feminism, said Cray.

“It is just as much a feminism as a rubber duck a duck. That means it is not, it's a cheap imitation.”

Cray encouraged the audience to objectively analyze her favorite artist, to understand the political nature in everything and to give the queer identity, strange experience and struggles of queer people an unapologist voice.

“You should really listen. Listen to the marginalized voices and really pay attention to when your own wish for entertainment or satisfaction leads you to ignore other people's struggles,” said Cray. “Is our need for entertainment by a certain artist greater than our need to take care of our most endangered people worldwide?”