Micro Studies: 5183 Leading in Culturally Responsive Environments

 Micro Studies: Taylor Swift Easter Eggs

Haylee Cannon

    Taylor Swift is arguably the most famous person on the planet right now, and her recent

billionaire status has piqued the interest of several groups. There are varying theories on what

had led to her degree of success. From her lyrics to her production to her engagement with

society, Swift’s fame is complex and multifaceted. It’s no secret that people want to be a part of

something greater than themselves, and this can take shape in many different ways. From

music to art to religion, people want to feel a part of something. For millions of people, Taylor

Swift is that connecting element. Her success is global, but what is it that skyrocketed her

success? According to recent studies, Swift’s success comes from her ability to create a

community centered around shared experiences and a sense of community.

    There is one concept that is particularly unique to both Swift and her fans, affectionately known

as the “Swifites”. This concept is that of “Easter Eggs’ or hints and clues that give fans insight

about upcoming projects, events, or releases. Easter Eggs create an opportunity for fans to

engage more with Swift’s career by solving puzzles, creating theories, and trying to figure out

her next move.

    In Amy Whiteside’s (2024) article, she explains this phenomenon at a higher level, analyzing the

extreme popularity of Swift’s Easter Eggs. Fans are analyzing and even investigating every

micro move from Swift in hopes that it leads to the uncovering of her best kept secret. The article

discusses how Swift’s online community surrounding the uncovering of Easter Eggs is based on

three types of rhetoric: playful intellectual engagement, community building, and parasocial

participation (Whiteside, 2024). At the end of the day, Swift’s Easter Eggs are more about

community building than they are about gaining new information. By choosing to engage in the

consistent adventure of always seeking her next move, fans feel closer to each other and to

Swift herself. There is a sense of community that is established, allowing individuals to feel like

they are part of something bigger than themselves. In this case, the collective comes from

feeling closer to other Swifites and to the artist herself.

    In addition to Easter Eggs, Swift’s popularity stems from her groundbreaking tours. Her most

recent tour, The Eras Tour, was record shattering. The Eras Tour followed many of Swift’s

musical eras, taking fans back on a nostalgic and exciting journey throughout her musical

career. Fans created a project where they dressed up to reflect their favorite era, further

emphasizing how Swift’s major success comes from her fan engagement. Swifities made

beaded friendship bracelets, a trend based on a lyric from Your On Your Own Kid, a track on

Swift’s tenth studio album Midnights, to trade with other fans during The Eras Tour. This trade

circle is yet another example of how Swift’s engagement and connection with her fans only

accelerates her stardom.

    In addition to fan-led projects increasing Swift’s success, the artist also is strategic in her music

writing and release. By releasing authentic music during hard times, Swift is able to connect with

her fans emotionally. During the pandemic when the world was going through a time of

tremendous loneliness, Swift took to her studio to write and release her eighth studio album,

folklore. This album covered vulnerable topics like struggle, loss, and regret. Most of all, it was a

reminder to fans that during a very lonely time, they weren’t alone. John McGrath’s article called

folklore, “the best example of a return to mainstream popular music” (McGrath, 2023). Swift’s

ability to connect with fans during the pandemic was a huge marker of her success because it

established a sense of togetherness when the world was forced to be six feet apart.

    Additionally, Swift gained a substantial number of new fans by switching genres, reflecting her

ability to relate to and connect with a new audience. By switching genres, Swift’s fans were able

to journey with her to new experiences, memories, and new eras. McGrath discusses how her

ability to move genres is rooted in finding a “new found freedom of expression” (McGrath, 2023).

Because Swift can authentically connect to a vast majority of people in different ways with

different methods led by both her and her fans, her unprecedented levels of success are

achieved.

    Fans want to feel closer to Swift because she offers a unique experience that explores almost

every aspect of the human experience. Her discography offers an insightful perspective on

some complex emotions and experiences. Fans cling to these lyrics, songs, and performances

to know they are not alone. This sense of togetherness is an integral part of Swift’s success as

she uses several elements of her career to establish a sense of community with her fans. From

her hugely popular Easter Eggs to her comprehensive lyrics, Swift’s success is accredited to her

ability to make millions of people feel a little less alone.

    In the past, I have overlooked what went into Swift's massively successful career. White she is

obviously a talented singer, her success far exceeds several other talented singers. After this

analysis, I believe her degree of success comes from her intentional integration of her fans into

her career. Research shows that her success is elevated the more she includes her fans in her

career. The most impressive factor is that she has created a fanbase that takes initiative without

her prompting. From dressing up at concerts to Easter Egg quests, Swift’s fans engage

themselves in multiple factors of her career. Being a Swiftie is far more than listening to her

music, and this is what sparks her historic level of success. By increasing fan engagement in a

way where they become the ones leading engagement, Swift has created a community that is

just as meaningful as her music.


References

McGrath, J. (2023). The Return to Craft: Taylor Swift, Nostalgia, and Covid-19. Popular

Music & Society, 46(1), 70–84.

https://doi-org.ezproxy.se.edu/10.1080/03007766.2022.2156761

Whiteside, A. (2024). Fandom and argumentation in the social media era: Taylor Swift

fans and the rhetoric of Easter egg hunts. Argumentation & Advocacy, 60(2),

119–136. https://doi-org.ezproxy.se.edu/10.1080/10511431.2024.2432172

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

EDUC 5313: Week 1

Introduction Hello, all. My name is Haylee Cannon, and I currently teach 8th grade ELAR in Anna, Texas. I find the middle school kiddos are entertaining, chaotic, and full of fun. I find they bring a unique sense of joy and laughter to most situations. In my current role, my main priority is to teach students to think both critically and empathically. If they can do both of those things by the time they leave my room, I feel my job has been accomplished. In addition to teaching, I am fortunate to have other leadership opportunities within my campus and district that align with my future goals. I serve as Department Chair of the English team and am a member of the District Technology Integration Leadership Team. Both roles allow me to work with and lead adults as well as teach students. These opportunities have given me practical experience with leadership, collaboration, and professional development. These skills will help with my future career goals as I’m hoping to obtain a leadershi...
Read more

EDUC 5313: Week 3

Image
  Blog 3   Haylee Cannon          Three major points from chapter four of How People Learn II: Learners, Contexts, and Cultures (2018) are executive function , self-regulation of learning, and memory. These three concepts are central to student learning, making them key factors in curriculum design. It's important that educators design lessons in a way that will be most effective when it comes to student learning.             Executive functioning is centered around “the abilities to hold information in mind, inhibit incorrect or premature responses, and sustain or switch attention to meet a goal ” (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2018). These tasks are key to success in the classroom as they are markers of a student who can not only memorize information but retain it as well. Essentially , executive functioning is a student’s ability to control their thinking. This concept is importan...
Read more

EDUC 5313: Week 2

       Authentic Intellectual Work is built on the idea that students learn things that will be relevant to them in the real world outside of the classroom. This method of learning is achieved through a combination of several measures such as high rigor, building student interest, in depth teacher content knowledge, and preparing students for the real world ( Newmann et al., 2007 ). The focus switches from memorization to the specific skills students will need to succeed in their future careers. The goal of Authentic Intellectual Work is to mirror the student’s learning to necessary future skills. This switch differs from traditional approaches by prioritizing critical thinking and real-world skills instead of short-term learning to take a standardized assessment. Overall, learning needs to be meaningful and relevant instead of superficial and standardized to increase a student’s proficiency in critical skills necessary for life.         Th...
Read more