"Long before the economy-lifting, paradigm-shifting global domination of her Eras Tour, Swift had cultivated a uniquely intense and personal relationship with her fans, even within the reverential world of pop music. That relationship, sustained through Easter eggs, years long parasocial narratives and arguably her own metaverse, can be real and special and nutritive, a steady raft through life's storms I've been there."
"The latest of these is the Life of a Showgirl movie or, more accurately, a launch event film for her new album The Life of a Showgirl, out this Friday. Officially billed as the Official Release Party of a Showgirl, it's a collection of song explainers, behind-the-scenes snippets and one music video (played twice!), unceremoniously packaged into one 90-minute sitting."
"With a projected $30m opening in the US, it will almost certainly be the highest-grossing film of the weekend which is a shame, given that it barely qualifies as a visual aid to the album, let alone one worthy of note in her vast universe of content. As a cinema experience, The Official Release Party of a Showgirl at least mirrors the album it celebrates rote, tinnily light, with the lazy execution and first-draft quality of someone up against a deadline."
Taylor Swift cultivated an unusually intense, personal bond with fans through Easter eggs, parasocial narratives and a bespoke metaverse that offered emotional sustenance. Over time, that bond has shifted toward commodification, with one-off re-releases, special vinyls and limited-edition retailer drops resembling a financial burden on devoted listeners. The newest example is a theatrically released 90-minute launch film for The Life of a Showgirl comprising song explainers, behind-the-scenes clips and a repeated music video. The film is projected to top box office despite feeling like low-effort promotion that reflects a burnout-era, first-draft quality in execution.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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