Swifties, get ready to analyze: University of the Philippines Diliman is offering a unique course exploring the celebrity phenomenon of Taylor Swift through a Filipino lens.
Titled “Celebrity Studies: Taylor Swift in Focus,” the course delves into how Filipino fans respond to Swift’s status as a global pop icon and “transnational” figure. Professor Cherish Aileen Brillon, a self-proclaimed Swiftie herself, will lead the discussions, covering topics like media portraya, Filipino appropriation, gender discourse, and political economy.
Brillon emphasizes the “third space” Filipinos create through their unique engagement with celebrities, citing examples like the “Taylor Batungbakal” nickname and fan art depicting Swift as Mama Mary among others.
The course promises an academic exploration of fandom, celebrity studies, and contemporary cultural phenomena surrounding one of the biggest pop stars of the generation.
Source: PhilNews24 | January 12, 2024
