Relationships with Other Celebrities
Besides bringing her closer to her fans, Swift’s usage of social media and openness in her songwriting also distances herself from the image of ‘ordinary.’ Mainly, through her highly publicized friendships (Selena Gomez, Lena Dunham, Lorde, Ed Sheeran) and romantic relationships (John Mayer, Harry Styles, Jake Gyllenhaal) with various celebrities constantly reminds us that she’s nothing close to being ordinary. In fact, her many failed and brief romantic relationships have been exploited for media consumption, resulting in exaggerated narratives that label her as ‘boy crazy.’ The media have collectively represented Swift as somewhat of a ‘collector’ of boyfriends, choosing only to engage in short-term, month-long relationships with famous male stars. She even writes about her boyfriends in her songs, as we have seen in “Dear John.”
This perception of Swift as a public figure that consistently showcases her many relationships with celebrities serves as a constant reminder of her own celebrity status. In fact, associating herself with celebrities can also be read as a publicity strategy, which possibly renders her as being superficial. If one only make friends with famous people, can one still be perceived as authentic and 'ordinary'?
