Taylor Swift is a cultural phenomenon whose influence spans music, media, and fandom on a global scale. A new book, Taylor Swift: The Star, The Songs, The Fans, co-edited by Assistant Professor of Arts and Games & Simulation Arts & Sciences Dr. Kate Galloway, alongside Christa Anne Bentley and Paula Clare Harper, offers an in-depth exploration of Swift’s far-reaching impact.
Bringing together contributions from esteemed scholars, practitioners, and journalists, the book examines Swift’s evolving persona, the lyrical depth of her music, and the vibrant communities of fans that have helped shape her legacy. Positioning Swift as a prismatic figure for the 21st-century musical landscape, the collection explores how her career has navigated industry shifts and broader societal changes, including her transition from country to pop and her negotiation of identity in relation to age, gender, race, and class. Engaging disciplines such as fan studies, cultural studies, musicology, journalism, and philosophy, the book offers a comprehensive look at Swift’s influence and why she continues to resonate with audiences worldwide.
The book traces its origins back to a groundbreaking virtual conference co-hosted by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in 2021, which facilitated critical discussions on Swift’s artistry and cultural significance. Dr. Galloway recently appeared on the Sound Expertise podcast to discuss the book and its key themes, offering further insight into Swift’s transformative role in contemporary music and society.
Dr. Kate Galloway is Assistant Professor in Ethnomusicology, Sound Studies, and Games at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Previously on faculty at Wesleyan University, she has held prestigious research positions at Memorial University of Newfoundland and was awarded the esteemed 2012 SSHRC Postdoctoral Prize, the first time the prize was given to a music scholar. Her research spans experimental musics, digital media, game studies, and sound art, with a focus on social justice and sonic culture. Her monograph, Remix, Reuse, Recycle: Music, Media Technologies, and Remediating the Environment, is under contract with Oxford University Press. She has conducted extensive fieldwork and has been widely published in scholarly journals and edited volumes, including Ethnomusicology, MUSICultures, Tourist Studies, Sound Studies, The Oxford Handbook of Hip Hop Music, and The Oxford Handbook of Music and Advertising.
Taylor Swift: The Star, The Songs, The Fans is now available through Routledge and major booksellers.