Semester in Review

Written Analysis- 5

Due March 26, 2016

            Over the past 6 weeks, I reviewed the life and talents of Taylor Swift. Looking back over the course of the semester, I have noticed that she most represents the theories of an icon, myth, stereotype, and formula. Taylor Swift is a true icon. She has proven this time and time again with her many awards throughout the years. Many females look up to her throughout the world and I feel this has a lot to do with how her fans relate to her song lyrics. Taylor Swift’s many song lyrics are myths of romance and hope. They are typically stories about her life that has already happened or what she wishes for her future. Her numerous break-up and perfect relationship lyrics are examples of myths of romance and hope. Though many find these lyrics to be relatable, others find them stereotypical. Singing of a break-up or a “perfect” guy that usually does not exist seems typical of a love song and typical of a female to be singing, and Taylor Swift has been put into that stereotype. She seems to break away from those stereotypes, however, by giving her break-up songs (and some love songs) an upbeat melody with a hint of sarcasm. Lastly, the formula that Taylor Swift uses is in the way she writes her songs. Her lyrics have a formula that is they tell a story about different points in her life. Also, the arrangements of her songs have a formula that is typical of what we see in pop songs today, A/A/B/A. This formula seems to be a winning combination for her as she just won a Grammy this year for album of the year.

            What I found most interesting in doing these assignments is the formula analysis. I had no idea that a formula actually existed in constructing a song. I thought that artists just sat down and wrote it, then put music to it. To learn that there is actually a formula and that over time it has been adjusted to mold with the culture was amazing. It makes sense that a formula like this would need adjusted to help keep music new and interesting, that is why music has changed so much over the years; it is just an adjustment and not a 100 percent overhaul because I feel that the original would still be needed as a reference.

            I picked Taylor Swift as my popular culture topic because just a few days before she had just won her Grammy and I had just heard her song on the radio. I was not a huge fan of hers but I would not change the station if her song came on. Now, on the other hand, when I hear her songs I will more than likely try to analyze them. When I hear stories about her on the news or Internet I will think twice before 100 percent believing it because it could be people stereotyping her. I will finally start to recognize her as a popular culture icon instead of just another celebrity because she deserves it.

Formulas in Songwritting

Written Analysis- 4
Due: March 20, 2016

            Just like with movies and television shows, songs have formulas to them as well. Taylor Swift has been quoted in an interview with NBC’s Today Show as saying “I think I’ve always had this basic formula that if I continue to write songs about my life any my life is always changing then my music will always be changing” (Digital Spy, 2010). Her music has definitely changed over the years, from country to pop, but the meanings behind her songs have stayed the same.

            Taylor’s equation seems to be the same each time she writes songs for her albums. She writes about her past experiences with friends, haters, and relationships. Adding lyrics about problems with love and problems keeping or finding love everyone can relate to seems to be hit makers. Forming a bond with your fans by relating to them and touching their lives with lyrics can be a formula for a hit song by itself. Attach a catchy phrase and beat sums up her song formula. Taylor inserts catchy lyrics such as, “Shake it off” and “We are never, ever, ever, getting back together” to make her songs fun to sing along to and easy to get embedded into our brains (Metrolytics, 2016). Combine that with a catchy beat or melody and you can “Name that Tune” to any one of her songs.

            Taylor Swift, like most pop singers follow the A/A/B/A structure of a song- the A’s are the verses and the B is the bridge (Song Secrets, 2008).  Her songs begin with an introduction that flow into the verse. Her verses tell a story broken up into small sections separated by a lift and chorus. The lift help make the song more exciting because it “lifts the song into the chorus section” (Song Secrets, 2008). In her song “We Are Never Getting Back Together” the lift is “Oh we called it off again last night, but oh, this time I’m telling you, I’m telling you” (Metrolyrics, 2016). That is not part of the chorus, because it has different chords than the chorus, so this is called the pre-chorus. Her chorus states the title of the song, which most songs typically do, and contains the catchiest part of the song as described above. This sung over and over again throughout the song helps people remember the song. Her songs then move into the bridge which also known as a break and typically the beat or melody is changed up a bit. The bridge can contain lyrics but they are lyrics that do not state the song title or this can be an instrumental solo. In the same song, the bridge is:

“I used to think that we were forever ever, ever and I used to say, never say never.
Huh, so he calls me up and he's like, I still love you, and I'm like I just I mean this is exhausting, you know. Like, we are never getting back together like, ever” (Metrolyrics, 2016).

Her songs then end with a big finish. She usually gets really into her singing at the ends of her songs or emotional. I believe this to be her formula for her songs and I feel that it is working. She has multiple albums that have gone platinum and gold, so she can prove that her formula works. If more singers and song writers would start taking notes on Taylor Swift’s songs, they may one day be able to hang with her.

References

Digital Spy. (2010, December 9). Taylor Swift has basic formula for songs. http://www.digitalspy.com/music/news/a292306/taylor-swift-has-basic-formula-for-songs/

Metrolyrics. (2016, March 16). Taylor Swift lyrics. http://www.metrolyrics.com/we-are-never-ever-getting-back-together-lyrics-taylor-swift.html

Song Secrets. (2008, July 18). Hit song parts and selections. http://song-secrets.com/songparts.html

The Cult of the Celebrity

Written Analysis - 3
Due March 13, 2016

           I would not go as far as to call Taylor Swift a hero, but I would definitely classify her in the cult of the celebrity category. The cult of the celebrity is a kind of fanatic that obsesses over a celebrity and makes them more famous than they would be without these fanatics.

Taylor Swift has many followers and fans and some may say that is the reason that she has become so famous. According to Renu Rangela, the author of Taylor Swift: A Case of Celebrity Worship Syndrome, psychologists have defined Taylor Swift’s great success as “celebrity worship syndrome” (2016). This syndrome implies that Taylor Swift’s success is mostly because of her cult following and her fans giving her such a high status, a kind of idolization.

Looking at this a different way, Taylor Swift has a group of girlfriends that she refers to as her “squad.” This group of models, singers and actresses, are all famous female celebrities that have become “besties” with Taylor Swift. They decided to call themselves a “squad.” Some have started to believe that this “squad” has become like a celebrity cult with Taylor Swift as their leader.  According to an article in the New York Post, to be a part of this “squad” there are rules. Speak when spoken to, follow the dress code for parties and concerts, and stick up for Taylor Swift at all times (Putnam, 2015).

I realize that some of the things people say in the media are not always trustworthy, but I would have to say, the “squad” seems a little intense. I remember when this was big in the media and people were starting to create their own “squads” and post pictures of them on social media. I would think- here we go again, another celebrity gaining more popularity and fame for a silly reason. To me that is the idea of the cult of the celebrity- doing nothing and gaining in return.

References

Putnam, L. (2015, September 1). Taylor Swift’s ‘squad’ has become a cult. New York Post online. http://nypost.com/2015/09/01/taylor-swifts-squad-has-become-a-cult/

Rangela, R. (2016, February 18). Taylor Swift: a case of celebrity worship syndrome. Healthaim. http://www.healthaim.com/taylor-swift-case-celebrity-worship-syndrome/41082

Stereotyping

Popular Culture- Written Analysis 2
Due: March 6, 2016

According to the Oxford Dictionary, a stereotype is “a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing” (Stereotype, 2016). A stereotype can be positive or negative, but typically they are negative and can be hurtful. We hear stereotyping occurring every day and may not even realize it.

            Taylor Swift is a current pop star with numerous songs playing on the radio today. An hour does not go by that we do not hear a Taylor Swift song. Some find that her lyrics are very stereotypical of a young woman. She sings about people breaking up, how they deal with those break ups, and how they move on. What some people may not realize is that she is singing about her own relationships and lack thereof.

            Another thing that most people do not realize about her music is that she sings about specific past boyfriends while being strategic to not mention their names. She sings about small details in their relationships that only the two of them would know. To her this is a sort of therapy.

            Swift used to be a country singer, which I feel has helped in her writing skills. However, this too could have given her a stereotype in and of itself. There are those that say country music is all about beer, trucks, dogs, and girls. Granted, Taylor has sung about none of those, I feel that the women of country music have influenced her to sing about relationships. She has since transitioned to country-pop music and finally to pure pop beginning in 2015. With this change, some critics have backed off since her sound lost that country twang.

            I feel that the change in genres helped Taylor Swift gain popularity and notoriety with other artists and critics. Artists are lining up to work with her. Even though she is still singing about relationships and break-ups, she still has massive followers, so she must be doing something right. Sure these stereotypes are negative, but in my opinion, these are just haters talking.

             

References

Stereotype. (2016, March 1). Oxford Dictionaries. http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/stereotype

Pop Icon- Taylor Swift

Popular Culture Blog - Weekly Analysis 1

Due: February 28, 2016

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines an icon as a very successful person who is also admired (Icon, 2016). This same dictionary defines a myth as “a story that was told in an ancient culture to explain a practice, belief, or natural occurrence” (Myth, 2016).

            Taylor Swift is a true icon. She started out as a country singer and made the decision to switch to purely pop music in 2014 (Scott, 2015). This helped sky rocket her career. She, of course, was a star when singing country, but when she made the change to pop music she became a mega-star. Her music is 100 percent relatable and meaningful; so many young girls look up to her. She has won numerous awards for her music including album of the year at the Grammy’s. In her acceptance speech she spoke to young women watching and listening about success and wanted them to know that focus and determination will help accomplish anything, however there may be those that try to falsely take recognition. She went on to say that the best feeling will be realizing that it was you who obtained that success. She is such an inspiration in life and her music, which is why she is an icon.

            So many of Taylor Swifts’ song lyrics are myths, myths of romance and myths of hope, all perfectly complied together to create stories. These are typically stories of her life that has either already happened or are stories that she hopes to happen in the future. Taylor sings of her break-ups and lost loves and of the “perfect” relationship or the “perfect” man that she hopes to stumble upon and live happily ever after with. These are examples of myths of romance and myths of hope. What sets her apart from the others though, is that these songs are not always slow and gloomy, they are upbeat and fun. These song lyrics are so relatable to every young girl listening which gives Taylor and her fans that special connection.

References

Icon. (2016, February 23). Merriam-Webster. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/icon

Myth. (2016, February 23). Merriam-Webster. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/myth

Scott, N. (2015, December 21). FTW culture’s woman of the year: Taylor Swift. FTW! Culture. http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/12/ftw-cultures-woman-of-the-year-taylor-swift

The next Contemporary Icon is...

Popular Culture Blog- Icon Analysis
Due: February 25, 2016

The three Icons that come to mind when I think of contemporary icons, are Princess Diana, One Direction, and Pope Francis. These three all have a great deal of fame and followers and have truly become idolized by society.

Princess Diana was so well loved and idolized by the people that everyone was captivated by every move she made. She was not only known for being the Princess of Wales, but mostly because of her intense work with numerous charities. Her love and support for these charities created many followers and increased her fame. Unfortunately, this fame and is what caused her death in 1997. A media photographer trying to get a close up of her in a car and caused her car to crash and Princess Diana passed. To this day, many still show great love for her, proving that she was and is still an idol.

One Direction is a "boy band" that formed in 2010 with 5 members from the United Kingdom. When their record launched in America 12-18 year old girls all over the country went crazy for them. They have been topping the charts since day one with their singles and their album sales and their concerts sell out in a matter of minutes. It doesn't hurt that the band members are good looking.  In 2015 one of their members Zayn quit the band and went solo, but that did not stop the fans, it only made them love the band even more and sympathize for them. You cannot go a hour without hearing a One Direction song on the radio now a days. I feel that this band is an icon because of the number of followers they have and how fast that number grew. I feel they will be around for a while. 

Pope Francis is the Holy Father of the Catholic Church. To me, he is an Idol. I do not idolize him but he has certainly regained faith for some people who have been struggling within the Catholic church. He actually has a twitter page, and at one time, he had the largest number of followers. He loves to be involved and actually touch people. He wants to be among his people and when he visits places, he doesn't just drive through, he stops, walks around and greets people. He even stops to bless crippled children. He is someone that I look up to and I think that is what an idol ultimately is-- someone to look up to!

Staying Connected

Popular Culture Blog

Due Sunday, February 21, 2016

What is popular culture, and what does it mean to you?

Popular culture is the belief, behaviors, attitudes, customs, traditions, and artifacts, shared by a group of people. It is learned by how people develop arts and practices; therefore, it is not determined by race, age, or sex. 

To me, popular culture means a person, thing, idea, event, and place that has a large part to do with society as a whole. Something that has even potentially changed society.

Why is an understanding of popular culture relevant to you in a business environment and in your present and future career?

It is important to understand popular culture in the business world because it is ever changing. I am in the accounting field and I need to stay relevant in popular culture just as much as other fields would. If I would want to change jobs or if a job hunter would be looking for someone like me, I would want to have myself out there. Also, clients are typically up to date with popular culture to stay ahead of the game; I would also want to make sure I know what is going on with popular culture so that I do not lose a potential client. Finally, being relevant on social media sites such as Linked In could help my future career by other employers seeking me out for a job based on endorsements of others.

What would you consider to be an example of a pop culture artifact? And why would you choose it?

Social Media is my example of a pop culture artifact. All of the sites described below connect friends, businesses, strangers, long lost loves, and family to one another across the Internet. Linked In is a social media tool that is used to help recruit candidates for job placement, endorse others for their knowledge, and increase ones reputation. Facebook and Twitter can help businesses put their names “out there” and market for free. These two websites have also connected friends over the Internet for some time now. Instagram is a bit newer but growing in popularity with the younger crowd. Pintrest helps people share ideas through pictures and videos and people can even sell things there. I do not think that our children will know a world without these social media outlets or at least some sort of social media!