What Taylor Swift thinks about 2017, and what it teaches us about Activism

[Virote_Considon]

Can I just say the thing I've been meaning to say about the OP? And it doesn't have anything to do with how good she is as a singer or neo-nazism and all the other stuff on the thread.

When on your birthday you tweet that the last year was a great one, you just mean that in your own life your 27th year was a good one. You're not undertaking to say that the year 2017 was a good year for everyone in the United States and world.

Even Taylor Swift is allowed, on her birthday, to be grateful for how her past year has gone for her.

Sorry, but no. Every sentiment to how any scope of persons' years have gone, has to be measured in terms of just how dang badly Drumpfykins has ruined it.

I mean, my year's gone terribly, but because Drumpf has affected it exactly zero, I rate it a solid "ok, but would be better if Obama had his third term as President".

 

[Crezth]

It's nice and good to enjoy one's own life and take heart and joy in one's own doings, but you're pretty heartless if you don't care about people being detained indefinitely in Border Protection Squad prions, ripped from their home, family, and belongings, and denied the opportunity for a trial or contact-by-lawyer. It's not like this could ever go wrong. A strong state means a strong citizenry: the smallest government is the largest, freedom is slavery, and so on and so on and so on.

We're still talking about Taylor Swift? Well, it's whatever. The real litmus test is how the peanut gallery here has responded to the accusation that there's something worth being upset about in the past year. I'm given to understand some people care about democracy and the rule of law and Trump people think their skin color is more important than that and want as much as possible to obliterate all our institutions to protect their race. It doesn't have anything to do with Taylor Swift per se but people like civvver reacting the way he does is proof positive that there is a revolutionary cancer in American society and politics.

 

[Ryika]

There are certainly things to be upset about in 2017, for example that Trump hasn't built the wall yet.
But that still doesn't mean that we have to make everything about these issues all the time.
If a person wants to talk about them, talk about them, but don't expect everybody else to always talk about them.

 

[Hygro]

Well, those pop stars have next to zero talent. The 90s had similar phenomena, though imo the 90s analogue featured better looking girls, and with at least somewhat more talent too (J.Lo, Aguilera etc), but also some cringe, like Ace of Base (in fact loads of cringe, Venga Boys and others).

It's not more talent to have to rely on a more dramatic voice.

 

[metatron]

It's not more talent to have to rely on a more dramatic voice.

Hmm...
Let's review some evidence:

My generation:

Spoiler :

Their generation:

Spoiler :

[I just wanted to post the lady with the trash can here. And this video from this youtube account wasn't my first choice. I had a concern regarding language in video titles and this is, apparently, my out.]

Yup.
Also a larger point can be made here about humor, irony and subversion.

Oh, you meant another kind of "voice".
My bad.

 

[Kyriakos]

Christina used to look amazing & have a very good voice ^^

 

[Synobun]

It is honestly quite strange that you and metatron are this insistent on showing everyone that you're intellectuals and above the inanities of enjoying modern day pop. The constant derailment to tell us that Taylor Swift is awful and the pop singers from your generation are soooo much better is... weird. Not only is it entirely irrelevant to the OP and the actual discussion but it's not even an endearing viewpoint to be putting forward. You're not smarter, or more cultured, or really any type of virtue, because you turn your nose up at people and pat yourself on the back for liking someone else.

What makes it worse is that you also adopt a general sentiment of a perpetual sneer at people who are involved with "celeb culture", blissfully unaware that you're probably more into it than the rest of us. The insistence on telling everyone that your preferred singer is obviously better than someone else's preferred singer is the height of celeb culture nonsense. It's just music, my dudes. Listen to it. Or don't.

 

[Kyriakos]

It is honestly quite strange that you and metatron are this insistent on showing everyone that you're intellectuals and above the inanities of enjoying modern day pop. The constant derailment to tell us that Taylor Swift is awful and the pop singers from your generation are soooo much better is... weird. Not only is it entirely irrelevant to the OP and the actual discussion but it's not even an endearing viewpoint to be putting forward. You're not smarter, or more cultured, or really any type of virtue, because you turn your nose up at people and pat yourself on the back for liking someone else.

What makes it worse is that you also adopt a general sentiment of a perpetual sneer at people who are involved with "celeb culture", blissfully unaware that you're probably more into it than the rest of us. The insistence on telling everyone that your preferred singer is obviously better than someone else's preferred singer is the height of celeb culture nonsense. It's just music, my dudes. Listen to it. Or don't.

One would post about pop music in a thread about a pop musician, or - to quote Swift's latest work:
Ooh, look what you made me do
Look what you made me do
Look what you just made me do
Look what you just made me
Ooh, look what you made me do
Look what you made me do
Look what you just made me do
Look what you just made me do

 

[Traitorfish]

Why do rock dudes always latch on to repetition as the defining sin of pop lyricism?

As if the best rock song in history isn't mostly a dude repeatedly insisting that the boys are back in town.

 

[Kyriakos]

Why do rock dudes always latch on to repetition as the defining sin of pop lyricism?

As if the best rock song in history isn't mostly a dude repeatedly insisting that the boys are back in town.

I am a doom metal dude, actually.

 

[Traitorfish]

I am a doom metal dude, actually.

Then shouldn't you be more concerned about the latest Mark Greening drama that whatever Katy Petty is up to?

(I mean, the dude has been in five bands in as many years, he makes pop divas look like Buddhist monks.)

 

[Kyriakos]

Then shouldn't you be more concerned about the latest Mark Greening drama that whatever Katy Petty is up to?

(I mean, the dude has been in five bands in as many years, he makes pop divas look like Buddhist monks.)

I am more concerned that you erased your original reply, and posted this later. I am the eye that sees all.

 

[metatron]

It is honestly quite strange that you and metatron are this insistent on showing everyone that you're intellectuals and above the inanities of enjoying modern day pop. The constant derailment to tell us that Taylor Swift is awful and the pop singers from your generation are soooo much better is... weird. Not only is it entirely irrelevant to the OP and the actual discussion but it's not even an endearing viewpoint to be putting forward. You're not smarter, or more cultured, or really any type of virtue, because you turn your nose up at people and pat yourself on the back for liking someone else.

What makes it worse is that you also adopt a general sentiment of a perpetual sneer at people who are involved with "celeb culture", blissfully unaware that you're probably more into it than the rest of us. The insistence on telling everyone that your preferred singer is obviously better than someone else's preferred singer is the height of celeb culture nonsense. It's just music, my dudes. Listen to it. Or don't.

Wait what?
Seriously, what?
This is a personal attack and a libelous one at that!

1. By use of the search function i have discovered that the term "swift" appears 4 times in my posts since the forum update. Four.
Once in a quote (civver talking about "swift demographic change").
Once in a comment of mine on the Reichstag Fire (Nazi exploitation of the event was "swift" or some such).
Twice in this here thread, not as a word but rather Ms. Swift's name.

2. Unless hypothetically being dissed by the actual original Nazis for not having sufficient heft in the derrier is an objective negative (i'd like to strongly suggest that it isn't) i haven't said anything negative about Ms. Swift at all.
If anything i have implicitly taken her side regarding the original matter of contention.

3. I and Crezth, who had the decency to pleasently interact with me, had a short conversation on the tangent of appropriation of celebrities and/or pop culture for political purposes.
Which is entirely appropriate as per the thread topic.

4. I am largely unfamiliar with the music these people produce. Do i have to? My primary defense here would be that i am kind of old. Never mind cultural difference (i have the vague impression that Adele is as big here as in North American but that Ms. Perry and Ms. Swift aren't, but i could be horribly wrong). Never mind that this wasn't exactly my kind of music when i was young in the first place.
Never mind - most importantly - that i have made no comment on the quality of actual music in the entire thread, as you have ascribed to me.

5. The plurality of my posts contain some sort of media reference. Usually some reference to iconic serial television moments. Some current, many from the 90s.
You remember VRWC? He and i had a whole thing where i would habitually try to sneak Dharma and Greg quotes past him (say in a thread about the repeal of the Bush era tax cuts or what have you) and he would accept blame if he missed them.
The last time i was subject to a similar accusation, this occured shortly after i had channeled the younger Ms. Gilmore's response to that priest regarding the "gift giving ship".

6. I am largely unaware of where you got the impression that i was habitually informed about celeb culture or cared about it.
Typically there is some thing on this board (or others). I go "who is that now". I google them, thus learning, say, that Ms. Perry is not an actress.
And then i may occasionally make use of information, because i have invested - get this - actual labor into a thread topic before running my mouth about a thing (celeb culture) about which i would otherwise be summarily ignorant.
E.g. As i mentioned i actually had heard about this "aryan princess" business because some people (here, other boards, the media - i don't remember) were interested in it political propaganda's sake.​

Now, you take all this and you scroll back up to the actual 3 posts i have made in this thread.
Consider once again how you can justify your attack.
Whatever your beef with Kyriakos is doesn't entitle you to this attack.
And some generational dissing in general can hardly be basis for your attack, seeing how we have entire threads for that purpose this very moment.

 

[Synobun]

My attack. Sue me, then. Can't have people spreading libel about you. My lawyer will be in touch with your lawyer. They will undoubtedly agree with you that my words were a heinous assault upon your person.

No, your contributions tend to be along the lines of equating modern day interests with anti-SJW sentiments. Like your post in this thread about how this generation of pop is some footage of a college kid from far-right Milo Yiannopolous. You've made entire threads about this sentiment, and you routinely get into entire diatribes about the left and its proponents in popular culture. This is usually coupled with remarks about how you don't care about popular culture (you made such a remark in this very thread), all the while railing against the idea at every given opportunity as you try to form connections between innocuous scenarios and nefarious agendas from the evil PC/SJW fanatics.

Don't get me wrong, your behaviour in this thread is fairly tame for you, but my point applied to both you and Kyriakos since you both went for the one-two punch there.

 

[Kyriakos]

Well, at least it is good that you didn't mind that i refrained from responding in similar tone. And you got some likes, which seems crucial

 

[Synobun]

Well, at least it is good that you didn't mind that i refrained from responding in similar tone. And you got some likes, which seems crucial

I live for the rare Traitorfish likes. That marks two since the migration to Xenforo. It means I'm doing well.

 

[Traitorfish]

I'm like a Bourbon monarch, bestowing scorn and favour on a whim.

 

[Virote_Considon]

Why do rock dudes always latch on to repetition as the defining sin of pop lyricism?

As if the best rock song in history isn't mostly a dude repeatedly insisting that the boys are back in town.

Holy heck, I wish I could Love react comments on here.

 

[metatron]

My attack. Sue me, then. Can't have people spreading libel about you. My lawyer will be in touch with your lawyer. They will undoubtedly agree with you that my words were a heinous assault upon your person.

No, your contributions tend to be along the lines of equating modern day interests with anti-SJW sentiments. Like your post in this thread about how this generation of pop is some footage of a college kid from far-right Milo Yiannopolous. You've made entire threads about this sentiment, and you routinely get into entire diatribes about the left and its proponents in popular culture. This is usually coupled with remarks about how you don't care about popular culture (you made such a remark in this very thread), all the while railing against the idea at every given opportunity as you try to form connections between innocuous scenarios and nefarious agendas from the evil PC/SJW fanatics.

Don't get me wrong, your behaviour in this thread is fairly tame for you, but my point applied to both you and Kyriakos since you both went for the one-two punch there.

What?
This is getting more intransparent as we speak.

1. So first and foremost deeming some cultural phenomenon one isn't interested in per se none the less worthy of inquiry once it has political significance is a rather normal behavior and hardly a uniquely metatronian hypocricy.
Say, "sjws" get it in their head that some thing they have barely heard about may be "racist". Conservatives suspect some new thing undermines this that or the other stupid thing they happen to care about. You know.
Art tends to be political even when it is not intended as such, once it gets big enough.

2. Then yes, i do see a problem with "the youth" of today having some sort of, frankly, deficit when it comes to humor, irony, cynicism and subversive speech.
This contrast is not unique to my generation. Todays youth in my view falls short compared to all the living non-senile generations on this.
Neither is this unique to the left. Maybe it features there more systematically, but my impression is that there is a systematic underlying trend.
Beyonce in a pimp hat is severely triggering and Mr. Yiannopoulos has to actually explain his jokes to his audience, mind you.
This is not normal for one. And i am not sure if i can explain it. My best guess would once again start with Jonathan Haidt's comments on the changing culture vis a vis parental supervision.
But yeah, i am afraid i have to stand by that claim: Today's youth? Not that adept with subversive irony.
If you feel i only blame the left on this, well, get some more young Republicans on the board, have them make some dumb claims and see how i react.

But, fine, the triggered lady with the trash can was a cheap shot.
So what are we to do?
Oh, we could hold Bootylicious and Perry's Roar next to each other.
Do i even have to comment that?
Compared to the former the latter is literally what mommy and daddy would want their teen daughter to consume.
If you don't think that's a problem...

3. What am i supposed to do exactly. I am not naturally interested in this stuff. But i feel culture like this is important. So i make at least some token effort to inform myself.
Then i dare to have opinions. So far you can hardly fault me.
Do i have to like everything? That can hardly be your demand?
E.g. I have given a short but exhuberant and decidedly pro-feminist defense of Frozen when it was new, if i remember correctly.
I vaguely like the works of one Ms. Sebert to the point that i am actively positively aware of them when they happen to accur in places where people pollute their environment with radio, or when they appear on the internet where i pass by (say, here).
Does that save my soul?

4. If you find my complaint about your post laughable. Fine suit yourself.
The fact remains that i had said less here than most other participants in this thread.
And in my posts including the one you apparently took offense with i had not actually said anything negative about any artist. All i did was implicitly defend Ms. Swift, implicitly appreciate the artistic merit of Ms. Knowles and make a joke in reaction to Hygro - who actually implied criticism of certain artists - disrispecting the Sacred Generation.
Which apparently isn't allowed.
So i have to be subject of an attack, the quality of which you can very well assess yourself with the help of a deep breath.

 

[Crezth]

Yes, by all means continue posting incoherent walls of text defending your pride against the accusation of derailing the thread with your snobbishness, it is certainly a good look.