SF-1216 Gender and Media: Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift was just a teenager when she wrote her first hits "Tim McGraw," "Love Story," and "You Belong with Me." Her first label, Big Machine, exerted full control. Back then, the rising star was known for her country sound and signature look: cowboy boots, sundress, red lipstick and, always, a big smile. Almost two decades later the multi-eras artist has traversed multiple genres including country, pop, synth, hip hop, trap, and indie rock; Sold over 200 million records worldwide; And changed labels and achieved unparalleled artistic control and autonomy. The iconic singer songwriter is a household name who wields unprecedented power in the music industry and beyond.
By studying the career and music of the 11 time Grammy winning artist, we explore issues of gender, feminism, sexuality, and intersections of race and class by looking at: The music industry and its pressures on women; Constructions of femininity and masculinity; "Whiteness" and femininity; Queer experience and desire in the artist’s lyrics along with issues of glass closets and queerbaiting in the industry; How genres are gendered (and racialized); Feminist articulations; The role of celebrities in public discourse; Fan culture (a Swiftie universe where Gaylors and Hetlors battle over who gets to claim the artist as their own); Women and power (taking on the likes of Apple, Spotify, and Ithaca Holdings); And nothing less than the future of recorded, monetized music (and film distribution it now seems).
Prerequisite
Student has satisfied all of the following Academic Unit (Computed) in the selection list Advertising Public Relations and Social Media, Art and Design, Biology, Biology and Radiation Sciences, Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, Communication Journalism and Media, Economics, English, Environmental Science and Studies, History Language and Global Culture, INTO College of Arts and Sciences, Math and Computer Science, Medical Dosimetry, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science and Legal Studies, Psychology, Radiation Sciences, Sociology and Criminal Justice ... And Student has satisfied all of the following Latest Class Standing in the selection list Freshman