The Fandom Factor: How Pop Culture is Shaping the 2024 Election
Subtitle: With 80% of respondents aged 14-44 consuming content about something they’re a fan of at least weekly on YouTube, fandom has become a powerful force in politics. But can Taylor Swift’s highly anticipated endorsement tip the scales for Kamala Harris?
Summary:
The 2024 election is not just about politics; it’s about pop culture. Fandom, once the domain of nerds and wonks, has become mainstreamed in monoculture. With 80% of respondents aged 14-44 consuming content about something they’re a fan of at least weekly on YouTube, fandom has become a powerful force in politics. Pop stars like Beyoncé, Megan Thee Stallion, and Olivia Rodrigo have been vocal about political issues, and their fans are eager to see them use their platforms to effect change.
Taylor Swift’s Endorsement:
The anticipation surrounding Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Kamala Harris is palpable. Swifties have already organized under the moniker Swifties4Kamala, and the candidate’s campaign has expressed gratitude for the fanbase’s support. With her first-ever political statement in 2018 rebuking Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn, Swift has established herself as a champion of women’s rights and LGBTQ+ issues. Her values align closely with the Harris/Walz campaign, which seeks to codify reproductive rights and protect the LGBTQ+ community from gender and sexuality-based hate and violence.
The Power of Fandom:
Fandoms are excellent grassroots organizers, uniting across religion, race, sexuality, and geography to help their idols win awards and gain media coverage through methodical, consistent action. K-pop fans, for example, organized against Trump in 2020, and in 2024, fandoms have learned from past attempts to effect change and are faster and fiercer than ever.
Can Trump’s Cult of Personality Outlast Pop Fandom?:
Trump’s campaign has harnessed the power of fandom, albeit in a toxic and divisive way. His AI-generated photos of women in “Swifties for Trump” shirts on Truth Social may have been a desperate attempt to rally his base. But can Trump’s cult of personality outlast the pulsating tides of pop fandom? As one pop star puts it, “Good luck, babe!”
The 2024 election is not just about policy; it’s about pop culture. Fandom has become a powerful force in politics, and Taylor Swift’s highly anticipated endorsement could tip the scales for Kamala Harris. As the campaign season heats up, one thing is clear: pop stars and their fans are here to stay, and their influence will only continue to grow.
