In the fall of 2024, 最新麻豆视频’s Department of English and Languaged launched the inaugural Eclectic Texts Conference (ETC), a two-day event aimed at combining popular cultural texts with academic research for the purpose of sharing how these texts both create their own influence while simultaneously drawing influence from other texts throughout history.
The theme of the first conference, “Taylor Swift: The Voice of an Age,” explored the impact Swift has had on our culture through panels, presentations, and activities.
Taylor Swift: The Voice of an Age
Papers were presented by faculty, alumni, and current students, including both English majors and non-majors. Topics ranged from an investigation into a potential conspiracy between Swift and the NFL, to her influence on feminism, to how Christians communities can learn from her fan base.
Fan/Celebrity (1)
- Behind the Spotlight: Are Celebrities Manipulating Us?, Maia Rodriguez
- Swiftly Committed: Unpacking the Fan Frenzy Behind Taylor Swift’s Inelastic Loyalty, Anaya Mitchell
- Taylor Swift and the NFL, Jayden Forsyth
Fan/Celebrity (2)
- The Parasocial Relationship Between Swift and Swifties, Sydney Cortez
- The Taylor Swift Effect: Discovering the Power of Celebrity Influence, Josiah Adams
- The Near-Worship of Taylor Swift, Sam Pilcher
Christianity
- What Christians Can Learn from Swifties, Jessica Ann Hughes
- Taylor Swift as a Socio-Religious Phenomenon, Colton Kirby
- The Idolization of a Human Being, Strom Nordeng
Keynote Lecture, t, Dr. Gary Tandy and Emmy King
Friendship Bracelets
- Make the Friendship Bracelets: Swifties Recovering Pulsera, Dr. Holly Shelton
- You’re On Your Own and Friendship Bracelets, Aliah Eells
Fans/Celebrity
- Taylor Swift’s Most Important Relationship: And No, It’s Not Who You Think It Is, Rachael Vorster
- Taylor’s World: International Perspectives, Muezzina Rizwan & Cut Fiandra Zahra
- The Fame and Influence of Taylor Swift, Nat Green
Cinema
- Taylor Swift and Her Cinematic Universe of Motifs: Why Taylor Swift’s Use of Motifs Is Important to Understanding Her Artistry, Olivia Aragaon
- "The Crowd was Chanting More:" Why It Worked for Eras but not for Tortured Poets, Grace Bydlon
- Lights, Camera, Lyrics: Cinematic/Directorial Language reflecting storytelling, Atlas Myers
Revenge/Christian Ethics
- Are the Accusations of Witchcraft Against Taylor Swift Founded in Fact or Fear?, Lydia Engel
- Dancing with the Devil: Swift and Christian Ethics, Emmy King
- Lewis and Swift on Forgiveness, Emily Busch
Feminism
- Was Antoinette Really a Mad Woman?, Brigitta Andreas
- "Long May You Roar at Your Dinosaurs": Taylor Swift on Childhood and Nostalgia, Paul Friesen
Religion
- Swift Must Be Something More: A Christian Musical Analysis, Brooklyn Chillemi
- The Best People in Life are Free: The New Romantics and the Gospel, Steve Studebaker
- Dear John: Eve Was Worthy Too, Claire Ahlem
Literature and Art Discourse
- Michelangelo, Eliot, and Taylor Swift: How Society Forgot the Sanctity of Art, Arabelle Bruner
- Feminism and paving the way for other artists, Eryn Gates
- Taylor Swift and William Blake: Two Contrary States of the Human Soul, Jane Loudermilk
Tortured Stories
- A Tortured Love: Taylor Swift and the Tragic Love Story, Sarah Keck
- What If It Was a Book: Looking at TTPD as a Work of Literature, Jocelyn Schindler
- Why Torture Poets?: The Narrative Poetics of Taylor Swift, Elizabeth Kerns
Keynote Lecture, "Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve": Taylor Swift and the Theology of Regret, Dr. Travis Pickell and Claire Ahlem
American Reality
- Welcome to Tishomingo: Two Different Yet Related Visions of intimate American Reality according to Zach Bryan and Taylor Swift, Solomon Moore
- "Our Song": Country Music, Nationalism, and the American Dream, Adelle Otter
- Who’s Afraid of Little Old Piano Man: Taylor Swift, Billy Joel, and the Abuse of Artists, Josh Hammingh
Marketing
- Transportation Engineering at Swift Concerts, Austin Bennett
- Growing Up Swiftly: The Evolution of a Middle-Class Swifty, Maddy Farnham
- What strategies does Taylor Swift use to market herself and why do they work?, Aubree Carr & Alison Ewing
- Is Taylor Swift the Epitome of White American Culture?, Citlally Mexicano-Nukaga
- Fireworks Over Your Town: A Reclaimed Reputation, Megan Kenyon
- Icon or Idol? The Intersection of Religious Faith and Fan Culture, Eliana Davey
Keynote Lecture, The Feminism of Taylor Swift, Dr. Melanie Mock and Brigitta Andreas
Zoom Session
- Speak Now or Evolve: The Feminist Shift in Taylor Swift’s Re-recorded Albums, Keegan Butler
- The Poet & The Pop-Star: Taylor Swift, Rupi Kaur, and the Poetics of Particularity, Aleks Morales
- “I’d be the Man:" Ye and Mayer or the men who "made" Taylor Swift, David Martinez
ETC brings undergraduate research into conversation with graduate and professional scholarship to create a space where:
- Prospective college students (and their parents) can experience life as a humanities major
- Undergraduate students can develop their research skills and build their resumes
- Professional scholars can welcome everyone into a deeper appreciation of the pop-culture topics they love
- Swifties of all ages can deepen their understanding of the phenomenon that is Taylor Swift
FAQ
Once we’ve reviewed your proposal, we’ll email you to let you know if your paper has been accepted. By Oct. 1, we will have the conference schedule available so you know when and where you will present. You can register for the conference at any time, and even if your paper isn’t selected, we’d love for you to attend!