Australian university to host academic ‘swiftposium’ on US pop star Taylor Swift in February

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 22 — The popularity of pop icon Taylor Swift continues to grow with Australia set to host the inaugural international academic symposium next year on the star’s impact.

The three-day event, to be held in February, same week as the singer’s record-breaking Eras Tour concerts at the Land of Down Under, will explore Swift’s influence on everything from the music industry to culture and the economy, BBC reported.

Organisers are hoping the event will attract researchers from across the Asia-Pacific region.

Event organiser Dr Jennifer Beckett from the University of Melbourne described Swift, who shot to stardom as a teenager, as quite a phenomenon.

The now 33-year-old has become one of the highest-earning and most-decorated artists of all time.

According to the portal, the idea for the symposium started earlier this year before seven universities in Australia and New Zealand jumped on the matter.

Beckett said Swift has a concrete impact globally pointing to things like the role of women in industry, entertainment law and even GDP.

“World leaders are begging for her to bring the Eras Tour to their country because of the economic benefits that it brings,” she reportedly said.

Organisers hope the conference will explore themes like the fandom phenomenon, Swift’s team’s “marketing masterclass”, and the singer-songwriter’s impact on discussions of gender, identity, race and intersectionality.

Critical analysis of her brand and influence is also welcome, they said.

While the list of speakers will be finalised in the coming months, the organisers are saving a space for Swift in case she wants to come.