Meet Juliette Holder, Area Chair for SWPACA’s Taylor Swift & Swiftie Studies!
⭐ Who are you and what do you do?
I am a Ph.D. candidate in Rhetoric at Texas Woman’s University. I have taught first-year composition for many years—including a Taylor Swift-themed writing course—and currently serve as FYC Assistant Director.
⭐ What are your current research interests?
My research interests include feminist rhetorics, public writing, and the writing process. My current project analyzes Swift’s re-recording project to theorize public revision as a feminist rhetorical device.
⭐ What year was your first SWPACA, and how did you get involved?
I first attended SWPACA in 2022, where I presented in the Television area. I came with friends from my graduate program, and we had a great time at the opening ceremony and game night, and enjoyed lots of snacks and conversations.
⭐ Why Taylor Swift & Swifties Studies?
Taylor Swift has long been an established player in popular culture, but over the last year or two, she has ascended to even greater heights, even being named Time’s Person of the Year in 2023. Swift is having a moment in academia, as well, with multiple conferences, academic edited collections, and classes dedicated to Swift coming from many disciplines and universities around the world. It is clear that there is a desire across disciplines to discuss Taylor Swift from an academic lens. However, opportunities to do so, while increasing, are still relatively rare or inaccessible. SWPACA serves as a perfect forum for hosting creative conversations about Taylor Swift as the field of Swift Studies continues to grow.
⭐ For Swiftie Studies newcomers, what is a recommendation to watch or look into?
Post45 has a great cluster conversation about Taylor Swift, specifically the folklore and evermore albums, which shows a range of critical approaches being applied to Swift’s work.
📢 Join Juliette and the Taylor Swift & Swiftie Studies community at #SWPACA25! Submit your proposal to SWPACA’s new Conference Portal by October 31!
