An international academic conference devoted to analyzing the global impact of pop star Taylor Swift is set for Australia in February 2024.
The University of Melbourne will host the three-day “Swiftposium” from February 11-13, 2024. It coincides with Swift’s Eras Tour, which kicks off its Australian leg at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on February 16.
Organized by scholars from seven Australian and New Zealand universities, the symposium bills itself as a forum for “critical dialogue” about Swift’s cultural influence and popularity. Academics will explore her effect on issues like gender, fandom, pop culture, literature, the economy, the music industry and more.
The interdisciplinary conference will feature both virtual and in-person events in Melbourne, including a public gathering at Federation Square. Organizers have put out a call for papers and suggested topics such as “Mental health discourse and Taylor Swift,” “Gender, sexuality and Taylor Swift,” and “The impacts of Taylor Swift’s international touring on urban landscapes.”
There are plans to invite Swift herself to make a virtual appearance at the symposium.
Dr. Jennifer Beckett, a senior lecturer in media and communications at the University of Melbourne, is a co-organizer. She said academics from diverse fields like urban planning, law and health have been invited to submit papers.
“Taylor Swift has such an outsized impact on elements of everyday life,” Beckett said. “For example, she’s been credited with drawing attention back to public transport in a post-pandemic era.”
Beckett noted Swift’s sizable economic influence, with analysts looking at her tour’s effect on net worth, consumer spending, inflation and GDP.
“I can’t think of another artist, with perhaps the exception of Beyoncé, who has had quite the same economic impact,” she said.
Beckett became a Swift fan relatively late after being introduced by her younger sister. She said Swift’s music has helped her through difficult times.
“Some of those songs have seen me through some really dark times,” Beckett said. “I remember screaming along to [the Reputation album] at the top of my lungs.”
Beckett added that Swift’s ability to build community and connections with fans online has attracted growing academic interest. “The team behind [Swift] is a masterclass in PR and communications,” she said.
The idea for the conference gained traction after a University of Melbourne professor jokingly suggested it on Twitter in July. It quickly enthralled scholars worldwide.
This is not the first academic interest in Swift’s work. In 2022, New York University and the University of Texas offered courses analyzing Swift’s music and cultural impact.
Belgium’s Ghent University introduced a course using Swift’s work as a lens into other writers. Indiana University Bloomington will host a Swift-focused conference in November.
Beckett said scrutinizing a pop culture force like Swift offers immense value.
“There is immense value in looking at these types of culture icons when they have this level of influence,” she said.
The Swiftposium will give scholars from across disciplines a chance to dive deep into the many facets of Swift’s reach.
