Case Study: Taylor Swifts Are Bad for Culture
A social critique of billionaire pop princess Taylor Swift, the mass-marketable, commercial 'American dream'
Disclaimer a: what follows are my opinions.
Disclaimer b: the title of this post is very critical…but I promise, I’m not a Scrooge. I’m just a conscious, observant citizen who wants to leave the next generation w/ a positive legacy.
Disclaimer c: this isn’t personal. I’m not disparaging Ms. Swift as a person. I don’t know her and I’m not judging her. I’m critiquing her career approach, business strategy and commercial products to make a bigger point about how our standards for EVERYTHING seem to have declined over time (and it’s time to raise them again!) I think that celebrities like her should take more responsibility for the influence they have on others and accountability for what they’re promoting.
Celebrities do affect culture, like it or not! I truly believe that the Taylor Swifts of the world represent brutal capitalistic corporations that care more about making as much profit as possible than they do about the level of quality that they’re contributing to the industry, culture and world. And that shouldn’t be rewarded.
I was having an (ongoing) argument w/ some family members about whether Taylor Swift is an artist or not…
…I GET and will readily admit that she IS a mega pop-star and an ultra successful businesswoman…
…but — does that make her an artist?
…is what she contributes to society actually art?
She is a performer, sure…but so are clowns…and 2 year-old beauty pageant contestants…and the dancing sign-holder trying to sell cars…and strippers…
…and I wouldn’t consider any of that art…
What do all of those performers have in common w/ Taylor (on a smaller scale)?
They’re preying on and exploiting the vices of our society to sell their stuff.
They’re perpetuating toxic cultural standards which promote commercializing anything and everything (standards which must change if we’re to have a healthy, quality-focused culture).
Their end goal is making as much money and gaining as much power (through influence) as possible.
Okay, maybe the clowns aren’t doing this…
But…Why Does Her Stuff Sell Then?
I know it sells.
I believe it sells because she’s become a social contagion that people worship. She’s capitalized off of music that encourages incessant dating and breaking up, hooking up and making your entire life about chasing boys or perpetually seeking that chase.
She plays into her generation’s typical issues and focuses on them. She attempts to be relatable and ‘inclusive’. She’s white, American, came from family money and she’s willing to play the soul-sucking Hollywood games.
All of that sells.
Talent and/or merit isn’t necessarily required.
The Definitions of Art & Artist
One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned in life is that we must use language in a way that accurately communicates what we’re trying to tell each other — otherwise, we’re arguing about 2 (or more) different things entirely.
For this purpose, we must *always* define the terms.
Art: the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.1
Okay, that definition of art is simple and generous. It appears to include any and all creative expressions and doesn’t have strict standards by which to judge it. Based on this definition, anything and everything can be art.
However, one could argue that, replicating the same or similar-enough melodies and/or lyrics for every song, does not take imagination nor skill…
I digress.
Now, let’s look at the definition of artist:
Artist: 1) a person who practices any of the various creative arts, such as a sculptor, novelist, poet, or filmmaker. 2) a person skilled at a particular task or occupation.2
So, the basic definition(s) of artist include anyone who practices creativity…
…OR, it’s someone skilled in their craft…
Those are two very different definitions — but they’re helpful nonetheless. They help us understand that we cannot use simple language to convey nuanced, contemporary developments. We need more words to describe what’s happening when creativity collides with commercial-pop-music industry.
Speaking of nuance, I much prefer the ‘artist’ definition that good old Google AI gave me:
While anyone can sing, a "real artist" is someone who not only possesses vocal ability but also uses their voice to express a unique artistic vision, conveying deep emotion through their music, often by incorporating elements like songwriting, style, and personal interpretation, going beyond simply singing the notes on a page; essentially, they create art through their singing, not just perform a song.
…but most people will refer to the dictionary definition, so for the sake of this argument, we’ll have to settle for the former definitions.
Given the official definitions of art and artist, I believe that my original question has been answered. Taylor Swift is an artist — just like all the rest of us humans are.
This leads to me refining my contention w/ this T Swift and other pop stars/celebrities like her, which is that…
The Popularity of Artists Like Taylor Swift Indicate Cultural Decline
So, we’ve established that she is an artist and creates art —just like all the rest of us humans.
BUT — that doesn’t mean that she’s a quality artist that produces quality art!
Not all art is good/useful/quality art.
Quality: the standard of something as measured against other things of a similar kind; the degree of excellence of something.3
This emphasizes the point I’ve been trying to make all along. Just because someone is popular, well-liked or ‘successful’ in society, does not make them a positive influence for the culture. In Taylor Swift’s case, she’s massively overrated as an artist but highly successful in running strategic marketing campaigns.
The more relevant inquiries about Taylor Swift are:
Does she contribute high-quality art to our culture?
Is she a good influence on culture?
The above are results from me polling my Instagram account followers and email list subscribers. It’s hardly a representative, random sample (I admit) but it is telling.
People are collectively becoming more critical of her (and her brand), even her fans. More on that soon…
Confession: I’ve Never Personally Been a Fan of Taylor or Taylor-esque Music
…but that’s not WHY I’m writing this post. Let me explain.
I was never a fan of Taylor-flavored music, so I must admit that I’m a bit biased against this mega-pop-star genre and I know I’m in good company w/ many other music-lovers who don’t consider what she produces to be art…
So then, what if I’m TOO biased against her style of music?
Am I SO biased that I can’t fairly critique her work?
If myself and my fellow alt-music-lovers were the only ones complaining, then I’d say maybe…but we’re not —
Even her fans have proclaimed that there’s been an obvious decline in the sheer quality of her music — simultaneous to the incline of her wealth and increase in speed at which she produces music, tours, merchandise, etc.
In essence, she cranks out sellable shit in no time and the quality is akin to something like…a happy meal?
That’s exactly what we refer to as selling out:
"Selling out", or "sold out" in the past tense, is a common expression for the compromising of a person's integrity, morality, authenticity, or principles by forgoing the long-term benefits of the collective or group in exchange for personal gain, such as money or power. In terms of music or art, selling out is associated with attempts to tailor material to a mainstream or commercial audience. For example, a musician who alters their material to encompass a wider audience, and in turn generates greater revenue, may be labeled by fans who pre-date the change as a "sellout".4
Let’s take a look at what her fans, former fans, and observers have to say about her evolution.
Her Fans Have Noticed the Increasing Commercialization of Her Brand…and They Don’t Like It
Here’s a youtube video describing her latest album and detailing her downfall by someone who likes (liked?) her music.
Her fans have written about being disappointed by her commercial-success-approach to making music.
Here are some reddit comments on the topic:
“I honestly think it’s because she’s so focused on selling a narrative that her fans will buy that she glosses over anything really interesting to make something palatable for everyone”
“Taylor has made herself a corporate brand more than a person and I think she cares more about maintaining brand consistency and brand power than she does about making real art.”
“Without any doubt, Taylor Swift is a carefully manufactured pop star designed for commercial success.”
“Maybe she’s not that interesting? I’m starting to think that could be the case and she’s running out of things to write about.”
“I’m actually not sure she’s interesting at all since she’s so calculated in expressing any opinions or being candid…she seems to have chosen her brand over having an authentic public persona and brands aren’t very interesting to me.”
“White American Bread as someone called her once in this sub.”
“I’m not trying to be mean but I’ve always seen her as kind of bland, and I thought that’s why her fans liked her.”
“I’ve said it before but even the most mid indie bands I used to listen to back in like 2012 were writing far better lyrics than Taylor. She’s just good for a pop star, who historically didn’t really write their own lyrics anyway.”
Taylor Swift is a businesswoman and she’s good at doing exactly what’s necessary to feed the beast — our commercial-consumer-obsessed culture — in order to enjoy the billionaire empire she’s built.
Once again, this is the epitome of selling out. It’s a business strategy.
— and it’s bad for culture.
(Another) Prime Example of Sell-Out Culture: Hot Topic
Guys, her stuff is sold at fucking Hot Topic.
I found out on my recent trip to my local small-town mall. I was so disappointed to see her commercial face at checkout. I feel like I’m in a Black Mirror episode. It goes against everything I believed about Hot Topic. Guess they’re sell-outs, too, got damn it.
I even asked the woman working there…'why is this here? Like why is Hot Topic selling Taylor Swift stuff…that’s so off-brand…???’ And she was like, ‘Hot Topic is for everyone’ w/ a cheerful face. I was like what in the left wokeness5 is this fuckery?! I think my mouth actually remained ajar.
Please bring back the emo/goth girls from the 2000s.
LOL, speaking of which, look at the comments in response to this tiktok.
I’m Not Just a Hater, Believe It or Not
Before you conclude that I’m just a negative person hating on a celebrity, I want to say that I know there are people who genuinely like her music. That’s cool, that’s fine, that’s none of my business.
I totally get the argument that maybe she’s just not within the limits of my taste in music. And I’d agree… to some extent —
Everyone has preferences that cannot be fully explained. Some people enjoy hallmark romantic comedies, while others like indie found footage films. Most people enjoy chocolate or vanilla, while others prefer stronger flavors like Mexican hot {dark} chocolate w/ an espresso shot. I’m not trying to say that my preferences in music or whatever else is superior to anyone else’s.
What I’m trying to point out is that there is a bigger connection to be made here: the manufactured trajectory of her career and the means by which she reached super-pop-stardom is a big red flag, not only for the music industry, but for our culture at large…
It is a sign of sickness in culture, the future of which looks bleak —kind of, almost exactly like…a landfill. Which entities like her brand significantly contribute to. Both the mindset that she encourages and the tangible damage that mega-billionaires like her perpetuate.
I also think that, over time and with exposure, people grow and change. (There’s still hope in my heart for all her teenage fans 😉)
And her fans can and do attest to this. She wasn’t always a sterile, robotic, repetitive, mass-marketable brand with a face.
She Didn’t Start Out As a Happy-Meal-Music-Machine
I’m sure you remember the Taylor Swift w/ long, curly hair and a guitar in her hand. The music that she used to make was heartfelt, timely and somewhat unique-to-her. I remember hearing her song, ‘Teardrops on My Guitar’ for the first time and thinking it was cute. Not really my thing but I get why people enjoyed it.
And she did this kind of thing for awhile. Then, her original inspiration seemed to die off and it was replaced by typical pop tunes and revenge lyrics. Her (former) fans believe that her living a millionaire lifestyle made her out-of-touch and uninspired. But she had plenty of resources and staff members to create something mass-marketable from scratch, so that’s what they did.
Hence, the earned sell-out title.
Happy Meal Music
I think of Taylor’s music like a happy meal from McDonald’s. It comes w/ a bunch of stuff, including a shiny new toy, factory-farmed meat and artificial ingredients that taste pleasant, all wrapped up in a colorful yet wasteful little box that only costs you SIX BUCKS and they get it to you in, I don’t know, 5 minutes?!.
It’s cheap, convenient, tastes good, comes w/ a bunch of crap that you don’t need and they get it to you fast.
Taylor’s albums feel like ordering off of the McDonald’s menu. Cheap, catchy, upbeat, colorful but all very similar, and you don’t have to wait long for the next set of songs to be cranked out.
This new era of influencers and hyper-consumerism go hand in hand. I think Taylor’s approach to business is similar to the Kardashians, who contort their bodies to what they think is sexually pleasing to a male, but which is unnatural and will inevitably have negative health outcomes in the long-run. They don’t care [enough], they want to make money and if they set a horrible example for American/Western society (and beyond), they couldn’t care less.
They are so wrapped up in the profitability of exploiting themselves and poisoning their followers that they’ll turn a permanent blind eye to any possible negative affects in culture.
But instead of cranking out toxic lip plumpers and circulation-strangling body shapers (all to look hyper-sexual at all times), Taylor sells her plastered face and brand on any number of random items: key-chains, ornaments, guitars, posters, t-shirts, guitar picks, mugs, phone cases, even books for kids.
Instead of making herself sexually appealing to males like the Kardashians, Taylor makes herself emotionally appealing to young women.
Our Current Culture Rewards + Encourages Selling Out
Taylor represents selling out and capitalizing on it. There are so many movies and stories about artists doing the same thing: releasing something that resonates at the right time, getting attention for it and then mingling w/ powerful people. Doing collabs. Gaining fame. Looking at the analytics to see what the fans like and then just mass-generating different iterations of it, touring w/ that set, selling merch for it, making movies about it, etc.
By cranking out generic, recycled, simplistic tunes w/ minimal vocal skill, dressing it up in pink glitter, infusing everything w/ fake max inclusivity and allowing the legacy of hierarchical white beauty standards6 to carry her along the Hollywood current, Taylor’s able to retain the fame, glory, power, influence and wealth that it provides her.
She has this business tactic in common w/ brands like Disney, Temu, Walmart & McDonald’s.
This shouldn’t be looked upon favorably, since it perpetuates the cycle of capitalizing off of anything that will sell, whether it’s good for society or not.
It represents instant gratification and hedonism, not taking into account the longer-term ramifications or cultural implications.
Her commercial success shouldn’t be seen as an ideal nor exemplary success story for reaching material wealth, personal fulfillment or artistic success.
If you think that Taylor Swift is what success looks like, then we’ve got very different worldviews.
It’s not even that I think she should be kicked out of the music industry —she just shouldn’t be making as much money or having as much influence as does, for the disproportionate quality that she gives to society.
It’s okay if she’s just a cult leader—that would make much more sense! I could respect that. But she shouldn’t be a super influential billionaire for the global masses. The fact that she is is a sign that humanity has become obedient, compliant, taste-less, blind consumers.
Her Material Success is an Indicator of a Generic, Manufactured {Mainstream} Culture
Touting her music as a standard for American pop encourages people, especially young women, to:
Settle for being mediocre in their pursuits, yet enjoy massive commercial success (if she can make it, can’t anyone?!)
Focus on romantic relationships w/ men above all else and spend most of your life dwelling on your failed relationships
Capitalize off of the overconsumption of cheap products made in places that don’t treat employees nor the earth well & get rich doing it w/o most people questioning your integrity
Keep the standard for art low and pretend like it’s at the same level of greatness as inspired, talented artists (truly waters down the music industry & over-saturates it w/ skimpy karaoke singers —who are really just dancers — who use autotune as their main instrument)
Simply make it acceptable + respectable to NOT do your best in striving to be a conscious, hard-working, altruistic, intentional and responsible citizen…
Is this really a hot take?…
To expect that people aim to be:
conscious of their actions and how they affect others & generations to come
intentional about what behaviors they engage in
hard-working for the betterment of society and oneself
altruistic aka not selfish
responsible & accountable for the ripples that they make in society
Remember, I’m only using T-Swift to represent many people who do what she’s doing. I don’t know her as a person, but she’s a person in the public eye, whose business affairs are, thus, publicized. This is a huge problem w/ pop-stardom in general.
I singled her out for this post because I believe she is an excellent representative of our current culture, which seems to be addicted to fast fashion, single-use-everything, convenience, fast food, magic bullet healthcare solutions and instant gratification.
We have a societal tendency to prioritize speed, convenience, and low cost over quality, sustainability, or long-term value.
You know what I’m talking about, right?
The overconsumption culture that this overflowing retail-store shelf full and perpetually restocked.
And celebrities like her perpetuate this problem, both on a subconscious level, AND on a global scale. Talk about epic proportions…
Pop performers like her are the reason for the overall decline in more selective, quality media production. She’s a hyper-capitalist who uses her brand to crank out cheap shit that she gets rich off of.
She’s a huge cog in the late-capitalism-commercialism-hyper-consumerism-overconsumption-machine that, unfortunately, is our culture.
Fast-food music.
There’s NO Reason Why She Should Be Earning More Awards Than These Artists
Wait, Taylor Swift is the artist that’s breaking records for having more awards than people like Stevie Wonder or Frank Sinatra…?
…or even her own ‘peers’ like Rihanna, Beyonce, Ariana Grande, Lana Del Rey and Adele…?
DUDE.
I’m also baffled by the amount of listeners she has. How is this possible?
I’ll say it again: how on Earth is this possible?
How is she more popular than Beyonce?
How does she have more talent than Adele?
Ariana’s vocal range is more impressive. Rihanna’s songs are still pop but way more likable. Lana Del Rey has more talent in artistry than Taylor could ever dream of.
And it can’t JUST BE ME, man.
Comparing her to a few of her peers here just illustrates that society’s standards for art have declined significantly.
It all comes back to standards and how the population will rise to whatever the culture sets as the precedent—dangerous for when the bar is set super low.
We Have to Decide What the Function of Art Should Aim For & Critique Art Based on Those Metrics
In other words, we must agree on some sort of criterion for the quality & function of art.
Neither raw talent nor range/depth of skill determines whether or not you are successful in artistic endeavors these days. The bar is low for quality, originality, skill or aptitude.
What you DO need to be successful is: to know people in the industry, have money, be willing to crank out cringe pop (they used to call this ‘selling your soul’) and work w/ other goofy people to reach the top of the charts.
This has got to change.
I think we should be expecting musicians to write about the full span of life, in an artistic way, pay them decent wages, not make them our idols and not unnecessarily spend money on shit that’s unnecessary (like fan merch, for the most part).
Rant over.
What are YOUR thoughts?!
This trend of white-washing, green-washing, brainwashing and fake inclusivity/diversity (to the point of watering every thing down to the same vanilla flavor) is part of what made me leave the political left. Here’s my article on that w/ special focus on this election year.
It’s not that I think white women can’t be beautiful 😜; however, I believe that a primary reason as to why she’s so mass-marketable and globally accepted is because of her blonde-haired, blue-eyed whiteness and how that plays into historical beauty standards that glorified a very specific type of white beauty. This a factor of her success that many ignore.
I’m a professional voice teacher and a theatre music director. I agree with literally so much of this.
The only thing that interests me about Taylor Swift is that she has figured out a way to get people out of their damn heads and singing together at her shows. I truly believe that that is why her shows are so magical because when people sing together, lots of people, lots of women, it is truly magic. The vibrations are there.
I remember hearing a critique of T Swift similar to this a while back, and it changed my view. I realized I wanted a way more high vibe, so instead of listening to her I switched to singing and jamming along to musicians like:
Morning:
1. Toni Jones
2. Modern Headspace
Afternoon:
3. Krishna Das
4. The album Matriarch by Joanne Shenandoah
5. Adrianne Lenker when I’m in my feelings
6. Rage Against the Machine when I’m doing dishes
7. Kid Cudi when I’m running
And then there’s my favorite genre; jazz: Madeleine Peyroux, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Julie London which I could listen to all day long.
I also love listening to the local radio station https://wpfwfm.org/radio/ which digs up some treasures that Spotify would literally never play me.
I also buy cd’s at local thrift stores and I like to listen to those in the car with my kids from beginning to end- no skipping tracks.
I can’t wait to go back to summer bluegrass festivals with my kids because they are so high vibe. Delfest in Cumberland MD is one.
I love bringing my shamanic drum to the local park and playing random stuff while my kids are playing on the playground.
You really are what you listen to.
Taylor Swift IS undoubtedly One of the most INfluential figures IN modern pop culture, havINg successfully navigated the shiftINg tides of celebrity over the past two decades. Once branded “America’s Sweetheart,” She BEgan Her career as a Wholesome, doe-eyed country sINger with a knack for narratINg teenage HeARTbreak. Her music, personality, and public image WEre carefully curated to resonate with younger audiences and their Families. But as Her career progressed, Her evolution INto the “bad girl,” FemINist rebel, and anti-Patriarchy icon seems far less Organic and far more strategic — part of a larger cultural agenda aimed at INfluencINg generations of Women IN particular Ways.
Her metamorphosis from the archetype of Purity to an emblem of defiance has BEen hailed by many as emPowerment and liberation. However, when One looks BEyond the surface, it appears that Her transformation wasn’t merely about artistic growth but about sellINg Herself to the dark forces of the entertaINment INdustry IN order to fully make it to the top.
From Her “Reputation” era to Her overtly FemINist anthems and politically charged stances, Swift has positioned Herself as a generational icon for millennial and Gen Z Women. Her messagINg IS steeped IN the kINd of ideology that encourages rebellion agaINst traditional values, promotes self-idolatry, and Sows Seeds of discord, dis-ease and disHarmony. Her shift from sweet country Girl has not only widened Her audience but also Created a cult-like loyalty among fans Who consume Her every word and movement without question.
THere’s a clear Spiritual component to Her rise. The glamour, success, and adulation surroundINg Her career cannot mask the darkness that’s underneath and at the centre of it All. Her INvolvement IN Hollywood, an INdustry which IS a hub of Satanism and occultism, raises questions about the cost of Her success. It’s no secret that many / most celebrities reach superstardom only after pledgINg allegiance to the powers that BE IN the entertainment INdustry. Swift’s imagery, lyrics, and performances INcreasINgly lean INto occult symbolism, even if veiled under the guise of artistic expression.
Her concerts are entertaINment and spellbINdINg performances; they’re Spiritual warfare. The etymology of entertaINment IS after All — to enter and control the mINd. She’s castINg dark spells over millions, normalizINg darkness, and desensitizINg Her audience from comINg INto allegiance with The Enemy.
Ultimately, Taylor Swift IS no longer “America’s Sweetheart.” She’s BEcome a carefully engineered icon for a new cultural era — One that demands total allegiance to the “values” of self-worship, rebellion, BIOlogical denialism and moral relativism. She IS a High-rankINg figure IN the cult of Hollywood, Her INfluence wielded like a weapon agaINst those Who remaIN Spiritually unguarded.