Grund

= Taylor Swift =



In the article Producing Girls by Mary Celeste Kearney, Kearney discusses how in today's society magazines are teaching young girls to consume rather than produce. In the article she states when analyzing issues of Seventeen magazine published between 1990 and 1996 she found that most of the celebrities in that issue were never portrayed has working. So to the reader all that would be implied is that celebrities never had to work to get where they are, they were just born with it, and dress in the highest fashion. I think that Kearney would have a complety different outlook with Taylor Swift. In the article it states, " that adults are the only producers of culture and girls are capable only of consumption" (289). If a person would read, or watch an interview with Taylor they wouldnt read, or see her talking about what to wear, what the best hairstyle is for a girl, or what kind of make up to wear. Instead they would read or see her talking about how hard she worked to get where she is today, and how if you have a goal/dream go for it. In interveiws Taylor has disscussed how she got to be where she is today. She started performing at fairs and doing karaoke contests around her hometown. She then made her first trip to Nashville were she went up and down the streets and went into record lable agancies and gave out copies of her singing karaoke. She then started to write songs at the age of 12, and later her parents decieded to move her and the family to Nashville. Taylor finally recieved a record label at the age of 14. Since then she has been able to accomplish so much and she is only 20 years old. I think that Kearney would say that Taylor challenges the statement from the article. I think that Kearney would look at Taylor Swift, and think that she is someone who teaches girls to produce rather than consume.
 * "What Would Kearney Say" 2-14-2010 **


 * "What Would Parsons Say" 2-21-2010 **

In the article, "Ella Evolving: Cinderella Stories and the Construction of Gender-Appropriate Behavior" Linda Parsons discusses how fairy tales play a role in a persons life. She discusses how they can give the wrong meaning to young girls and even boys. As stated in the article, " Fairy tales establish appropriate desire as well as appropriate behavior. As the reader's or listener's attention is drawn to desires, values, and sanctioned behaviors, young girls and boys appropriate them as their own" (136). I think that she would have a lot to say about Taylor because she herself, and some of her songs portray the princess /fairy tale look. In Taylor's songs she sings about mainly guys, either how they have done wrong to her, or how she dreams of finding that right guy. Two of her songs that I think describe the traditional fairy tale, is "Love Story" and "White Horse".

In the song "Love Story" she states... Somewhere we can be alone I'll be waiting All there's left to do is run You'll be the prince And I'll be the princess It's a love story Baby, just say yes" **
 * "Romeo, take me

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This pretty much states the classical fairy tale, the princess is waiting for prince charming to come and sweep her off her feet, and they live happily ever after. The whole song in my opinion describes what every girl wants...a fairy tale love story. On page 136 of the article Parson states, "A primary goal of gender construction in patriarchal culture is to prepare young girls for romantic love." When young girls watch or read a fairy tale they can start to think that love is perfect, and that there will always be a perfect ending. With the next song though it shows that love is not perfect even if it is a fariy tale. In the song "White Horse" she states...

This ain't a fairy tale I'm not the one you'll sweep off her feet Lead her up the stairwell This ain't Hollywood This is a small town I was a dreamer Before you went and let me down Now it's too late for you And your white horse To come around" **
 * "That I'm not a princess

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This song I think Parson would say challenges the article for the most part. It shows that even though fairty tales usually show a happy ending, that in the end it may never work out like they make it out to be in a fairy tale. In the video she shows the guy that she thinks is the "perfect guy" or "prince charming" is everything that she ever wanted ;that he is just all around a great guy. In the end though she finds out that he has been cheating on her, when she sees him going into another girls house. Something that stood out to me was on page 138 of the article. It states, "women suffer at the hands of other women". I think that this could relate to what happens in the video. Taylor is deeply hurt when she sees the guy going into this other girls house. She realizes that this guy is not her "prince charming". At the end of the video the guy asks her if she would give him another chance;Taylor says no. I also think that this could challenge the article because the girl (Taylor) is standing up for herself and in the end is without the guy. This is were the lyric "Now it's to late for you and your white horse to come around". I agree with what the article is saying, that fairytales can give young girls and boys the wrong impression about finding their prince or princess.

Lisa Hager wrote the article, " Saving the World Before Bedtime: The Powerpuff Girls, Citizenship, and the Little Girl Superhero". In the article the creator of the Powderpuff girls states, "I get a lot of girls saying that they look up to them". That is what made me think that Taylor Swift would be great for this article. Taylor has so many girls that are looking up to her as a role model, or even a superhero. In my opinion I think that a superhero is someone that a person looks up to. There are so many girls of all ages that look up to Taylor. Throughout the article Hager talks about "Diva Citizenship" which is stated in the article on page 64 as, "a moment in which a previously abject citizen "stages a dramatic coup in public sphere in which she does not have privilege" and temporarily makes her radical critique central to the dominant discourse, thereby disrupting its fictional universality". I beleive what she is saying is that diva citizenship is a diva making sure a law is not being broken in the process of her going further than the law, while trying to make the world better. I think that Hager would say that Taylor is somewhat part of diva citizenship. Taylor is a young adult who shows that she is very responsible to herself, and her fans. You look at other young singers and actresses that are young adults that have done things that have just made a bad name for themselves. These stars have done things such as drinking, drinking and driving, sex tapes, and drugs. Now look at Swift, she has never did any of that stuff. She states in a few interviews that, that kind of lifestyle doesnt interest her. I think that Hager would say that Taylor is pretty much a perfect superhero for anyone.
 * What would Hager say? 3-7-2010 **


 * [[image:http://www.myeaglecountry.com/albums/gallery07/haley_and_taylor.sized.jpg]][[image:http://www.contactmusic.com/pics/ma/cma_celeb_closeup_060608/taylor_swift_1904869.jpg]][[image:http://celebucrap.typepad.com/.a/6a00e552403d2f883301157124a7bf970c-500wi]]

What would Schrum say? 3-14-2010 **

In the article, "Teena Means Business", Kelly Schrum dicusses how the popular magazine //Seventeen// became what it it is today, and how it infulanced/influances the teenage girl. I think that Schrum would have many things to say about Taylor Swift and the magazine//Seventeen// that would be very positive. "Seventeen's major themes-fashion and beauty, boys, education, and politcs", subjects that the teenage girl thinks about. Through my teenage years //Seventeen// was a great magazine because it touched on those subjects; I even still find myself reading them every now and then. I think that Schrum would say that Taylor Swift is an excellant person to be in issues of //Seventeen,// because she is a great role model for young girls. Swift realizes that girls look up to her, so she doesn't do anything stupid where magazines could go and write bad about her, or post photos. I think that //Seventeen// picks people like Swift to be on covers and in articles of the magazine, bacause she is that great of a role model for young girls. They feel that she is the the ideal teenage girl. One thing though that the magazine is doing at the same time is trying to get girls to consume. //Seventeen// likes to tell girls that they can be just like Swift. They tell girls where to buy clothes that look similar to Taylor's. What kind of hair products to use if they want their hair to look like Taylor's. Also what kind of makeup to buy to get her look. By doing this, they have been sculpting the teenage girl for years and years. Magazines like //Seventeen// sometimes gives girls the wrong impression. They make girls think that they can be exactly like Taylor, or any other person on covers of magazines.


 * Some other magazine covers Taylor has appeared on..... **


 * What would Zipes say? 4-4-2010 **

The article, "The Phenomenon of Harry Potter, or Why All the Talk?", by Jack Zipes talks about why Harry Potter has become such a Phenomenon. I think that Zipes would have a lot to say about Taylor Swift becoming such a phenomenon. In the article it states, " to become a phenomenon in Western society, it must be conventional; it must be recognized and categorized as unusual, extraordinary, remarkable, and outstanding. In other words, it must be populary accepted, praised, or condemned, worthy of everyones attention; it must conform to the standards of exception set by the mass media and promoted by the culture industry in general". Well Taylor has no problem fitting in to the standards of the media, she is tall, skinny, and blonde. That is what the media pretty much emphazises in magazines and such. Also many people can relate to her songs. Swift makes her songs from personal experiences which I think is why so many people like her music and her. There are so many girls that can realate to the songs. She sings from breakups, guys cheating, fairytale endings, and so on. I think that Taylor is a great role model for girls and boys..yes boys. Even though Taylor sings most of her songs for girls to relate to, there are boys that are fans of Taylor and her music. All in all i really believe that Zipes would agree and say that Taylor Swift is a phenomenon.






 * What would Beavis and Charles say? 4-11-2010 **

In the article, "Challenging Notions of Gendered Game Play: Teenagers playing The Sims" by Catherine Beavis and Claire Charles it discusses how certain games it predetermines notions of "gender", "domestic space", and "successful game play". In this article it focus on the game The Sims, and how it is one of few that is aimed at girls. Beavis and Charles discuss when girls usually play The Sims they are the ones that usually stay home and are the homemaker. When on the other hand, the boys are the ones going out and trying to find a successful job. This had me thinking of the first week of class when we discussed sterotypes of gender, how women are sterotyped to be the stay at home mom, and the males are the ones who are supposed to have a good paying job and support the family. After reading that and looking back on my childhood when i used to play The Sims, I realized I was doing the same thing. I would play my sim as one who stays home and takes care of things around the house. I was unsure how I was going to relate this to Taylor Swift, because I didn't think she was in any type of video game. I found out though that she is in a game called Band Hero. In this game the players can be Taylor Swift and sing her songs, and have the same moves as she uses in real life. With having Taylor on Band Hero it is giving fans of her to be like their idol. It is also showing young girls that they dont have to be a stay at home mom like the other games do. It is showing them that if they have a goal of doing something in life to go out and persue it.

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 * What would Inness Say? 4-25-2010 **

Sherrie Inness discuss the American Girl collection in the article, "Anti Barbies" //The American Girls Collection and Political Ideologies.// In the article Inness discusses almost every part of the American Girl doll, everything from the prices to the impacts. In the article it states, "The five historically based dolls were created by Pleasant Rowland, who wished to create what one writer called "anti-Barbies...dolls that could teach American history, family values, and self reliance". In my opion I feel that is one reason so many girls and parents enjoy these dolls because they have some educational things that young kids can learn from them. Growing up I remember reading some of the American Girl books, and how I always found them enjoying to read. Along with reading some of the books, I remember getting magazines in the mail of all the dolls and accesories you could buy for your doll. I remember I always would have liked to get a doll, but they were really expensive. That is one thing that was shown through out the article, how expensive these dolls and accesories are. I personally feel that these dolls are great for a young person to have, but i feel that they shouldn't be that expensive. The price should be lowered so more people would be able to purchase them if they would like. Looking at Taylor Swift dolls there are many dolls, and they all range from $18.99 to $36.99. Comparing Swift dolls to American Girl dolls the most resonable priced doll would be the Swift doll. On the other hand though the Swift dolls do not show as much educational features as the American Girl dolls do. If some how the Swift doll could have more educational features, I feel that it would be a very inspirational doll. Also I think that Inness would have a lot to say about how the Swift doll shows young girls that they can be successful at things such as a talent. Compared to the original doll that is either a nurse, vet, or homemaker.

**What would Gaunt Say? 5-2-2010**

In the article, " Let a Woman Jump" from //The Games Black Girls Play// Kyra Gaunt explplores the games the young black girls play, such as double dutch. She argues that the type of music generated by African Americans such as rap, comes from these games played. In the process she states that people need to see African Americans through the games instead of the music. In the introduction part of the article it states, " When we think of the music that drives the popular culture of African Americans, our first thought is not of double-dutch: girls bouncing between two twirling ropes, keeping time to the tick-tat under their toes, stepping out with snatches of song and dance that animate their torsos and release their tongues with laughter. Instead, what comes to mind is hip-hop, neo-soul, goo-go, crunk, and R&B". In society there are many stereotypes, and for African Americans society looks at them about their "social and musical bodies" as stated in the article on page 5 of the introduction. If Gaunt were to look at Taylor Swift, she would most likely say that she is stereotyped as the young inoccent girl. And when looking at her being a country singer a person may think that that is her favorite kind of music. Well that is not true, her favorite band is Def Leopard, and she has had the chance to perform with them a few times already. Also Gaunt would relate Taylor Swift to " kinetic orality" when she mad a video with rapper T-Pain. In the video, Taylor was dressed like a rapper, baggy pants, white t-shirt, a grill, long chains, and a hat that was worn to the side. She as able to portray a rapper, even though she doesnt rap fora living. In the end I think Gaunt would say that it would be hard for a young white female to become a rapper, since society sterotypes that only African Americans can/should rap. I think that both African American girls and white girls are stereotyped, so if one would try to do something the other does society would look at them differently. Stereotyping needs to stop and I think that that would be something that Gaunt would like to have happen.

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What would Lamb and Brown Say? 5-9-2010

In the article, "Pretty in Pink: What Girls Wear" by Sharon Lamb and Lyn Mikel Brown discusses how little girl, pre-teen, and teen clothing as changed a lot through the years. If a person goes into a regular department store to find a plain t-shirt for their child, they can't. In today's society little girls t-shirt either have designs or some type of saying on them. Most of the the clothing sold for a little girl is a smaller version of what a teenager or adult would wear. The adult clothing is being directed toward the younger girls. In the article it states, " we show how clothing for little girls, preteens, and teens announces the type of girl she can be and then extends this type into everything about her" (14). When a person goes to shop in a department store for clothes; either it be for their child or herself most of the clothes are made for cute or sexy. When brands are making sexy clothes for 4 and 5 year olds, they are getting the wrong idea of how they should act and dress. Also it just isnt the stores implanting these images in little kids heads. There is also "these older clothing styles showing up on the girls in TV shows that kids are watching, strategically placed in doll sets, and they are choices in popular computer games" (17). With this taking place girls are seeing this, and thinking that this is how to dress and act. I think that Lamb and Brown would agrue that these little girls are veiwing this and are trying to grow up to fast. After looking at this i would also agree, and wonder how the fashion is going to be in years to come. I think that Lamb and Brown would say that Taylor challenges this article. When looking at her line of clothing most of her t-shirts are either white, black, or red; there are hardly any pink t-shirts. Also when looking at her sundresses they are more nuetral colors, blues, greens, yellows, and some pinks. Over all I really enjoyed this article, it made me realize more how much society is making an impact on girls lives.