As a community
Swifties
Rise of Social Media and Fandoms
Fandom: a network of supportive fans that connect through their passion for a celebrity, especially via social media
01
The Swifties are one of the most prominent fandoms in recent pop culture, but why do they elicit such negative attention from outsiders?
(Dellatto 2023)
* Avid Taylor Swift fans* Young * Usually female * Passionate * Loyal
Who are the Swifties?
02
The Swifties are one of the most prominent fandoms in recent pop culture, but why do they elicit such negative attention from outsiders?
03
However, Swifites tend to posses some "obsessive" and "cult-like" behaviors in supporting Taylor Swift
Shared Goals
The main goal of the Swifites is to support Taylor Swift in her musical carreer and personal endeavours
04
Communication Styles
05
Song Acronyms
Easter Eggs
Public Perception
The stereotype of Swifties as predominantly young, overly emotional women also plays into the negative public perception, reflecting broader societal dismissal of interests and communities dominated by female fans.
06
- Nicole Hemmens, a self procalimed Swiftie since 2006
Insight From A Swiftie
“Anti-Swifites say that we have a cultish behavior, so many people tend to hate the community. I don’t care about the hate. I think people who hate Swifites and Taylor Swift, in general, are silly and hateful for no good reason. I enjoy the music I like and enjoy being a part of the community, no one’s online opinion can make me change that.”
07
In the end, the very public reactions that aim to diminish Swifties’ influence have instead helped create one of the most cohesive and powerful fan communities in modern-day pop culture.
Conclusion
The intense reaction that Swifites provoke from outside in online spaces stems from their massive collective influence as a unit, distinctive communication patterns, and unwavering support and dedication to defend Swift at all costs.
08
Work Cited
- Backlund, Roya. “I’m Extremely Terrified to Admit I Don’t like Taylor Swift.” StyleCaster, 25 Oct. 2023, stylecaster.com/entertainment/celebrity-news/1656617/i-dont-like-taylor-swift/- Bussman, Amanda. “Taylor Swift Created a Community for Swifties.” Medium, 19 Sept. 2023, a-bussman.medium.com/taylor-swift-created-a-community-for-swifties-ecdbe3b0caa9. - Click, Melissa A., et al. “Making Monsters: Lady Gaga, Fan Identification, and Social Media.” Popular Music and Society, vol. 36, no. 3, July 2013, pp. 360–379, https://doi.org/10.1080/03007766.2013.798546. - Dellatto, Marisa. “More than Half of U.S. Adults Say They’re Taylor Swift Fans, Survey Finds.” s, Jordyn. Swifites in Comment Sections on X, 24 Oct. 2024.Hemmens, Nicole. Why Do Swifites Elicit Such Strong Negative Attention>. Oct. 24AD.JDProdNFL. Not a Swiftie, 2 Oct. 2023, x.com/JDProdNFL/status/1709046149745705060.McLean, Adrienne L, et al. “Paying Attention: Feminist Film Studies in the TwentyFirst Century.” Cinema Journal, vol. 48, no. 4, 2009, pp. 144–151, www.jstor.org/stable/25619738. Accessed 12 Mar. 2019.Swales, John M. Reflections on the Concept of Discourse Community. Mar. 2016.
08
Work Cited
- Forbes, 14 Mar. 2023, www.forbes.com/sites/marisadellatto/2023/03/14/more-than-half-of-us-adults-say-theyre-taylor-swift-fans-survey-finds/- Dubois, Elizabeth, and Grant Blank. “The Echo Chamber Is Overstated: The Moderating Effect of Political Interest and Diverse Media.” Information, Communication & Society, vol. 21, no. 5, 29 Jan. 2018, pp. 729–745, https://doi.org/10.1080/1369118X.2018.1428656. - Hemmens, Jordyn. Swifites in Comment Sections on X, 24 Oct. 2024. - Hemmens, Nicole. Why Do Swifites Elicit Such Strong Negative Attention>. Oct. 24AD.JDProdNFL. Not a Swiftie, 2 Oct. 2023, x.com/JDProdNFL/status/1709046149745705060.
08
Work Cited
- McLean, Adrienne L, et al. “Paying Attention: Feminist Film Studies in the TwentyFirst Century.” Cinema Journal, vol. 48, no. 4, 2009, pp. 144–151, www.jstor.org/stable/25619738. Accessed 12 Mar. 2019.- Swales, John M. Reflections on the Concept of Discourse Community. Mar. 2016.
08