One Day, We Will Be Remembered: The Populism of Taylor Swift

• In Event: Pop Culture and The Framing of Politics

Abstract

On October 7, 2018, Taylor Swift made her first political endorsement. Within 48 hours, 102,000 new voters aged 18–29 had registered. Benjamin Moffitt defines populism “as a political style that features an appeal to ‘the people’ versus ‘the elite’...and the performance of crisis, breakdown or threat.”

Over nearly two decades, Taylor Swift has cultivated a base with distinctly populist characteristics. Through early adoption of social media and autobiographical songwriting, she fostered parasocial intimacy with thousands of young women seeking authentic female narratives amidst the predominantly male music industry. Swift is viewed as an older sister of sorts, with both her successes and feuds experienced communally by fans. This phenomenon results in Swift regularly achieving commercial feats, as well as inspiring campaigns of harassment by fans against supposed foes. Such tactics echo those employed by populist figures including Donald Trump, who mobilize the devotion of strangers to retain control. With the showmanship provided by social media, lines between celebrity and politician have grown difficult to navigate, inspiring loyalty that can override personal sensibilities.

In the social media age, fandom offers critical insight into parasocialism’s growing importance in bolstering populist politicians. This paper explores how Swift’s parasocial relationship with fans operates similarly to the cult of personality fostered by populist politicians, prompting a deeper understanding of how populist politicians weaponize artificial intimacy as a means of accruing political capital.

Author

• Rebecca Allison Karpen, NYU GSAS