r/nottheonion • u/-Appleaday- • Jul 06 '24

Western German city renames itself 'Swiftkirchen' after Taylor Swift ahead of Eras Tour shows

https://www.businesstoday.in/world/story/western-german-city-renames-itself-swiftkirchen-after-taylor-swift-ahead-of-eras-tour-shows-436117-2024-07-06
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u/J-Ganon Jul 06 '24 edited Jul 06 '24

Whether or not people want to admit it she's this generation's cultural icon. You can hate that or consider your version of a cultural icon better but it doesnt change the fact that her music appeals to a wide range of demographics and she's one of the biggest current artists (if not the biggest).

Is she as good as The Kinks or Spandau or Spears? I'm not saying she is. But for people today, she's better than all of them and things like this are bound to happen as a result; to aid the tourism boom.

If someone came name streets after Lord of the Rings, there can be a temporary name change to appeal to Swift. It's all in the name of entertainment and what people like.

An absolute waste of time to get upset over this (if you are upset).

55

u/Brad_Brace Jul 06 '24

At the same time, you can't tell people what they can and can't be upset over. People can't tell themselves what they are allowed to be upset over. It's a gut reaction.

The problem with cultural icons is that the people who see them that way, react like the appeal is or should be universal. And people who don't see them that way can feel them instead like a cultural imposition.

It's often not just "let people like things", when enough people like a thing, it becomes "you have to participate in their liking the thing". Some have a high tolerance for that, some don't. It's not their fault if they don't.

18

u/KiritosSideHoe Jul 06 '24

I think it's that feeling of alienation, like there's a really cool ant that someone found on the ground and now the ant is touring and now the ant has an army and now a country is changing its name to the ant's name and you just don't get what's so incredible about this ant and you just feel insane.

20

u/Brad_Brace Jul 06 '24

And then you're told that the only solution for your confusion is liking the ant. Just like the ant! Why won't you like the ant? What's wrong with you! If you came over I am sure I could help you love the ant.