Time Magazine’s announcement yesterday of Taylor Swift as its annual Person of the Year is an emphatic fuck you to politics, marking the first time in almost a decade that the Person of the Year wasn’t a political figure — an accurate reflection of Americans’ disgust with politics.
Every time I get your letter I think of “Ken ‘Einstein’ general douche-about-town” and chuckle. Have you seen the right wind punditsphere melting down over this cover and calling it a dem psy-op?
I am so fucking sick of Swifties. They are as loud, arrogant, judgmental, defensive, and selfish as any other fandom on the planet.
That said...just because Swift isn’t “political” according to your Beltway/electoral frame of reference, Ken, does not mean she is “apolitical.” Swift is political because she is a successful woman who has made an entire media empire based on her performance of white American femininity, and she has even occasionally used her platform to promote progressive causes. She’s not my cup of tea; I’m not super impressed with her basic, white, 3rd wave feminism; and she’s too rich for me to feel any kind of sympathy for her. But she is political for her fans, which would be obvious if you ever talked to a one of them. This bordering in Politico-level naivety
Whatever one thinks of Swift (I haven't liked any of her songs in a long time, maybe since Love Story), it is beyond dense to think her selection as Time's Person of the Year is apolitical. She's better at inducing tears from conservative pundits than most Democrat politicians.
Yes, Ken, I can blame them (referring to your ? Re: young ppl not voting). We are a participatory democracy. Fail to participate & our system of government falls apart to demagogues &/or theocrats. Those little selfish brats aren’t going to get anything better under a fascist theocracy. I know this because I can see the fate of young people in Iran. Participate or Perish.
Call me cynical but this is is Time chickening out.
Person of the Year is Time magazine's only relevant issue any more. Gone are the days when their weekly commentary was read by everyone. Everyone. (I grew up in a working class household and we got Time and Newsweek.)
If Time had picked a politician, who were they going to pick? Kevin McCarthy? Who's going to be famous for taking fifteen shots and still couldn't make it to his first anniversary?
Mike Johnson who is unlikely to even be speaker next year?
Trump who is now looking more demented by the moment?
Mitt Romney who released one of the more courageous books but which doesn't seem to have impacted one Republican voter?
Or Joe Biden who is having a great year, accomplishing great things without any of the middle school drama that mainstream media relishes?
If they picked a politician it would have to have been Biden but that would undercut the "Biden is weak" message that commentators need to fill up air space and print space.
Now I think there is a case for Swift being Person of the Year - her tours generated $5B+ in GDP and she is someone who may change the national conversation. And a shout out to Beyonce who also had a phenomenal year and a phenomenal tour and also generated another $5B in GDP.
Each of those women were just as impactful to the economy as all of the NFL. When was the last time you saw the NFL being dissed like this?
Every time I get your letter I think of “Ken ‘Einstein’ general douche-about-town” and chuckle. Have you seen the right wind punditsphere melting down over this cover and calling it a dem psy-op?
It's a good move for TIme. They're going to sell a ton of copies to her fans.
I absolutely *cackled* at 'Hassan Nasrallah of young white women'
Maybe her talent, drive, and goodwill also contributed to the accolade.
I think Taylor Swift is Time’s Person of the Year because Taylor Swift is Taylor Swift. She’s incredible.
Entertainment brings people together; politics divides them.
I am so fucking sick of Swifties. They are as loud, arrogant, judgmental, defensive, and selfish as any other fandom on the planet.
That said...just because Swift isn’t “political” according to your Beltway/electoral frame of reference, Ken, does not mean she is “apolitical.” Swift is political because she is a successful woman who has made an entire media empire based on her performance of white American femininity, and she has even occasionally used her platform to promote progressive causes. She’s not my cup of tea; I’m not super impressed with her basic, white, 3rd wave feminism; and she’s too rich for me to feel any kind of sympathy for her. But she is political for her fans, which would be obvious if you ever talked to a one of them. This bordering in Politico-level naivety
Whatever one thinks of Swift (I haven't liked any of her songs in a long time, maybe since Love Story), it is beyond dense to think her selection as Time's Person of the Year is apolitical. She's better at inducing tears from conservative pundits than most Democrat politicians.
Yes, Ken, I can blame them (referring to your ? Re: young ppl not voting). We are a participatory democracy. Fail to participate & our system of government falls apart to demagogues &/or theocrats. Those little selfish brats aren’t going to get anything better under a fascist theocracy. I know this because I can see the fate of young people in Iran. Participate or Perish.
LOL swift voted for Harris, but her cats voted for Trump.
Should've been the funny NDN from Reservation Dogs, William Knifeman. Oh well. Let this comment be my nomination for Knifeman 2024.
Not my person of the year. Just another useless mole swinging from a vine in plain sight.
How about a real hero such as a firefighter, policeman or service member vs a teenybopper pop star ?
Shawn Fain!
Call me cynical but this is is Time chickening out.
Person of the Year is Time magazine's only relevant issue any more. Gone are the days when their weekly commentary was read by everyone. Everyone. (I grew up in a working class household and we got Time and Newsweek.)
If Time had picked a politician, who were they going to pick? Kevin McCarthy? Who's going to be famous for taking fifteen shots and still couldn't make it to his first anniversary?
Mike Johnson who is unlikely to even be speaker next year?
Trump who is now looking more demented by the moment?
Mitt Romney who released one of the more courageous books but which doesn't seem to have impacted one Republican voter?
Or Joe Biden who is having a great year, accomplishing great things without any of the middle school drama that mainstream media relishes?
If they picked a politician it would have to have been Biden but that would undercut the "Biden is weak" message that commentators need to fill up air space and print space.
Now I think there is a case for Swift being Person of the Year - her tours generated $5B+ in GDP and she is someone who may change the national conversation. And a shout out to Beyonce who also had a phenomenal year and a phenomenal tour and also generated another $5B in GDP.
Each of those women were just as impactful to the economy as all of the NFL. When was the last time you saw the NFL being dissed like this?
Really? I think it’s because Time Magazine is worthless.
Disgusted with republicans
Who made politics disgusting, the politicians? Who elected the politicians?