University Conference in Australia Dedicated to the Taylor Swift Phenomenon

The societal, economic, and cultural impact of American pop star Taylor Swift is enormous. Recognizing her influence, the University of Melbourne in Australia dedicated a symposium to her. This academic gathering, held on Monday, was attended by researchers from diverse disciplines who adore the artist, a billionaire businesswoman with millions of fans worldwide, known affectionately as “Tay Tay”.

Dubbed the “Swiftposium”, this event examined the Taylor Swift phenomenon from various perspectives including sociological, commercial, cultural, and even medical. This happened just before the singer arrived in Melbourne on Friday for her world tour, “The Eras Tour”. Jennifer Beckett, a senior lecturer in media and communications at the University of Melbourne, expressed amazement at the multitude of different approaches that can be used to analyze Taylor Alison Swift.

“Taylor Swift has accumulated such power and influence that it likely is unprecedented in the music industry,” noted Beckett. The renowned academic believes that while there’s much to learn from the artist, it’s also necessary to think critically. In addition to being a singer and actress, Taylor Swift, 34, is also recognized as a poet, feminist icon, and skillful businesswoman.

In the previous year, the University of Ghent in Belgium offered a course that analyzed the pop star’s lyrics, raising questions about her “literary genius”. One of the most unexpected elements of the Melbourne symposium was the demonstration by researchers that the rhythms of Swift’s songs could potentially aid in cardiac resuscitation.

Queen of communication

For years, the Bee Gees song “Stayin’ Alive” was used as the rhythm for CPR training. However, it was found at the symposium that certain Taylor Swift songs have the ideal number of beats per minute for this purpose, making them more relevant to younger generations, as the panelists noted.

The conference also explored “Swiftonomics”, a term coined to represent the economic impact of Taylor Swift’s tours on various sectors including city planning, public transport, restaurants, and hotels. The pop star’s tours can boost a city’s economy just by being included in her tour schedule.

Sociologist Georgia Carroll, one of the speakers, delved into the strategic manner in which the singer spurs her fans to splurge on her products. Carroll noted that Swift rewards fans who spend money by giving them attention, a strategy that is meticulously planned and executed. This makes fans perceive her more as a friendly neighbor than a billionaire superstar.

Brittany Spanos, another speaker and a contributor to Rolling Stone magazine, discussed how Taylor Swift is “one of the smartest artists” in terms of communicating with her fans. She has a knack for making fans feel “connected” to her, Spanos observed.