Taylor Swift revitalized the economy of entire cities. Her concerts have caused actual earthquakes. And perhaps more to the point - she is one of the few uniting cultural phenomenal these days. Like or dislike, dismiss her at your peril.
This was a great article a while back on the phenomenon and I think it's worth reading. Needless to say, I think it was an apt choice for Time, though the news generated by their person of the year choices may be their only claim to relevance these days, I would agree.
Taylor Swift. Taylor Swift would be another person who's a hero. The music she's created over the years, I don't really listen to it, but the fact that she's making it, I respect that.
So I was vegetarian for four years until very recently when I discovered locally raised grass fed meat, am a pacifist, and as a former Anglican turned Byzantine Catholic really like to dialogue with our Anglican and Orthodox brethren. Hmmm. What does this make me?
"So, on a road trip earlier this year, I asked JD what the big deal was — I have no idea why I thought he’d know, the man’s basic ignorance of music is legend"
Ed, it is not universally the case that Time even in its heyday was written in lapidary prose. It was famously lampooned by Wolcott Gibbs in a profile of Henry Luce '"Backward ran sentences until reeled the mind'. Yes that was part of house style at one point. So were baffling captions. A photo of a well-known personality might carry a caption like: 'In and out of hot and cold.'
"So long as our cultural horizon stretches no farther than an election cycle or three, and never beyond our own lifetimes, and so long as we live our lives illuminated by mere temporal lights, we will always be prone to believing our doom is at hand and this or that government is our only savior."
"Time, like most other formerly influential magazines, has shriveled to a desiccated husk of its former self, clinging to relevance like a cicada shell to the bark of a tree."
Wow. You, sir, earned your paycheck this month. Bravo!
"Grand conspiracies, false messiahs, and rock’n’roll"
-- The entire headline was about Taylor Swift. I mean, she was inducted in The Illuminati by Kayne, right? (Look, her love of the number 13 really gives it away.) And, she certainly has hordes of fans who exhibit a kind of religious ecstasy *watching movies* of her concerts (forget about what happens in person). And, she's certainly the Anti-Christ of Rock'n'Roll (or just one of them, at least).
GREAT Friday to you too ED. More Cardinals ( "the Red Hat Society") are now afflicted and affected South India, Australia ( Pell RIP) USA Latin America. Political Social Turmoil unrest conflict is everywhere. My children families wer eall stirred up the TIME Person of the year. But then relaity comes. December 8 ceremonies near Spanish Steps Rome - Salus Populus Maria Maggiore reminds us that "The Woman Clothed with the Sun ,Moon at her feet 1 2 Stars around her head about to give birth " is with us forever- even if some float around in Space crafts.
I think the reason so many people doubt that nothing is impossible with God is that their short term view makes them think God can't do what is best or He would be doing what they think is best rather than what is for the long term best. He has a much longer view than we do and knows what is best for us even when it looks like it's for our worst.
It’s easy to dismiss Taylor Swift as another blond pop singer and certainly her music isn’t everyone’s taste. But what she accomplished as a 30 something female … yeah she’s the Person of the Year. Her concerts were the biggest thing in entertainment and they were BIG. She impacted the GDP everywhere she went. That’s impact. Not suggesting people should worship her at all. Not suggesting people should even care what she says or does. But it wasn’t the worst choice by far.
The Sultans of Swing - now THAT is rock n' roll!
That you Pillar staff for giving us something other than the TIME magazine poo. Bless you!
Taylor Swift revitalized the economy of entire cities. Her concerts have caused actual earthquakes. And perhaps more to the point - she is one of the few uniting cultural phenomenal these days. Like or dislike, dismiss her at your peril.
This was a great article a while back on the phenomenon and I think it's worth reading. Needless to say, I think it was an apt choice for Time, though the news generated by their person of the year choices may be their only claim to relevance these days, I would agree.
https://www.thefp.com/p/taylor-swift-unites-america?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=e7zgp
Taylor Swift. Taylor Swift would be another person who's a hero. The music she's created over the years, I don't really listen to it, but the fact that she's making it, I respect that.
Well placed Zoolander reference 👍
So I was vegetarian for four years until very recently when I discovered locally raised grass fed meat, am a pacifist, and as a former Anglican turned Byzantine Catholic really like to dialogue with our Anglican and Orthodox brethren. Hmmm. What does this make me?
Eclectic?
awesome.
"So, on a road trip earlier this year, I asked JD what the big deal was — I have no idea why I thought he’d know, the man’s basic ignorance of music is legend"
Hahaha - you guys are hilarious
Darn you, Ed; now I have Taylor Swift songs stuck in my head. Yuck.
Ed, it is not universally the case that Time even in its heyday was written in lapidary prose. It was famously lampooned by Wolcott Gibbs in a profile of Henry Luce '"Backward ran sentences until reeled the mind'. Yes that was part of house style at one point. So were baffling captions. A photo of a well-known personality might carry a caption like: 'In and out of hot and cold.'
Ed this may have been your best work yet. I actually laughed at parts! Well done and I agree it is 'Time' to give it a rest.
I am anxiously awaiting The Pillar Top Ten Stories of 2023 article (podcast?), as is fashionable for most media creators this time of the year.
"So long as our cultural horizon stretches no farther than an election cycle or three, and never beyond our own lifetimes, and so long as we live our lives illuminated by mere temporal lights, we will always be prone to believing our doom is at hand and this or that government is our only savior."
"Time, like most other formerly influential magazines, has shriveled to a desiccated husk of its former self, clinging to relevance like a cicada shell to the bark of a tree."
Wow. You, sir, earned your paycheck this month. Bravo!
"Grand conspiracies, false messiahs, and rock’n’roll"
-- The entire headline was about Taylor Swift. I mean, she was inducted in The Illuminati by Kayne, right? (Look, her love of the number 13 really gives it away.) And, she certainly has hordes of fans who exhibit a kind of religious ecstasy *watching movies* of her concerts (forget about what happens in person). And, she's certainly the Anti-Christ of Rock'n'Roll (or just one of them, at least).
Only you have understood what I was really doing here. Thank you.
I hope that your reply here is a bit of humor. Taking pot shots at Taylor Swift is not very Christian.
Taylor's music is catchy
Her voice is sweet and pure
Umberto's prose is complex
His ideas will endure
Taylor's fans are legion
Her concerts are a sight
Umberto's readers are many
His books are a delight
Taylor Swift and Umberto Eco
Two artists, worlds apart
Yet both have touched our hearts
And left a lasting mark
The clotted cream thickens
Thickens? That doesn't rhyme!
Clotted cream and winter dreams,
A catalogue of Ralph Lauren themes,
Taylor Swift's voice, a melody that beams.
The cream so thick, it clings to the spoon,
The clothes so warm, they ward off the moon,
The music so sweet, it makes the heart swoon.
A winter wonderland, a feast for the senses,
A fashion statement, a style that commences,
A song that lingers, a memory that dispenses.
Mentioning Taylor Swift was just a ploy to get the swifties to swarm over here for some new views and maybe subscriptions, right? Very clever.
The reverse - I actually try to periodically purge our subscriber list of people who might prove unreliable in the breach.
GREAT Friday to you too ED. More Cardinals ( "the Red Hat Society") are now afflicted and affected South India, Australia ( Pell RIP) USA Latin America. Political Social Turmoil unrest conflict is everywhere. My children families wer eall stirred up the TIME Person of the year. But then relaity comes. December 8 ceremonies near Spanish Steps Rome - Salus Populus Maria Maggiore reminds us that "The Woman Clothed with the Sun ,Moon at her feet 1 2 Stars around her head about to give birth " is with us forever- even if some float around in Space crafts.
Thanks for a great collection of stuff to ponder.
I think the reason so many people doubt that nothing is impossible with God is that their short term view makes them think God can't do what is best or He would be doing what they think is best rather than what is for the long term best. He has a much longer view than we do and knows what is best for us even when it looks like it's for our worst.
It’s easy to dismiss Taylor Swift as another blond pop singer and certainly her music isn’t everyone’s taste. But what she accomplished as a 30 something female … yeah she’s the Person of the Year. Her concerts were the biggest thing in entertainment and they were BIG. She impacted the GDP everywhere she went. That’s impact. Not suggesting people should worship her at all. Not suggesting people should even care what she says or does. But it wasn’t the worst choice by far.
And she made the NFL more popular, which is very hard to do.
Haters gonna hate hate hate hate hate...