Best of 2023: Pop Culture Moments
Candace: Taylor Swift Eras Tour
I have been a Taylor Swift fan since the beginning. I had “Teardrops on My Guitar” on my iPod Shuffle. However, I never had the time or expendable income to go see her in concert until 2023. My sister was lucky to get a code and we got tickets to one of the Philadelphia show. The energy in the stadium was indescribable. Each segment of the concert represented a distinct era of Taylor's musical journey. Lavish stage setups, stunning costume changes, and immersive storytelling create an experience that transcends the typical concert format. I will remember this concert for the rest of my life.
Arezou: Rey Movie Announcement, Ahsoka
Look, I love Taylor/Travis in that I am very happy this 30-something tall woman found an even taller man, who just seems like a himbo that worships the ground she walks on and shows up to support her. That man had a friendship bracelet and a dream and look at him now. We should all be so lucky. I will say I am relatively out of the loop as to the minutiae, but I do think it’s very cute.
Worried as I am about what will be deemed a “good” story for Rey when her Star Wars movie eventually comes out (we all saw what they decided was a “good” conclusion for her, and if I get started on that I’ll be here all day), I will say I was very excited to catch a glimpse as Daisy Ridley at Star Wars Celebration this year as she came out to announce her return to the GFFA. She deserves so much more than what her last movie gave her, and I am cautiously hopeful that her new movie will be just that.
As for niche pop culture moments, it was personally very funny to me that Anakin Skywalker popped up in Ahsoka in the World Between Worlds and on my Twitter….Ben Solo began trending immediately. Bring him back kthx.
Hope: SAG-AFTRA strike
The SAG-AFTRA strike is easily my choice. While Barbenheimer is a strong contender, we couldn’t even talk about the Barbie and Oppenheimer phenomenon if we wanted to be in solidarity with the strikes. Thanks to the greedy studios of the AMPTP who dragged their feet in negotiations, the aftermath of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA will be felt well into the future, with countless numbers of series and movies either canceled or delayed. It was a hard-fought victory for the unions and worth it. Fans will have to have some patience while also keeping an eye on The Animation Guild. TAG’s contract is up in 2024, so I sure do hope all the people who showed solidarity in the 2023 strikes show up with TAG's inevitable strike over the same issues.
Chelsea: Hot Labor Summer
We had big movies, concerts, and a staggering number of memoirs come out this past year, but by far the events with the most lasting cultural impact will be the many strikes of 2023. The most obvious are the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes which impacted countless movies and TV shows and whose effects we will be feeling for years to come. But there were also delivery service strikes, auto manufacturers strikes, and teachers strikes, just to name a few. Unions have made a comeback and continue to influence consumer behavior. “Hot strike summer” turned into “hot strike fall” and I don’t think we’ve seen the end of it by far. In a rapidly advancing world of AI and robotic improvements, workers are realizing now more than ever that they need to stand up to corporate greed and imbalances of power.
Vanessa: Disney 100
Disney has always been a huge part of my life. The movies, shows, parks - not only did they foster my own imagination and dreams, but they connected me to numerous friends throughout my life who were equally inspired. Disney has changed so much over the years, some in positive ways and some in negative, but haven't we all? I was so excited that I was able to be at Disney this year for their 100th Anniversary Celebration, because as I reflected on their journey, I also reflected on my own. From that little kid watching Little Mermaid to meandering around the parks with my friends and my now husband, to singing Moana songs to my daughter - it has been an incredible journey. And it all started 100 years ago, with a mouse and a dream. Thanks for the continuing memories, Disney!
Noor-Hal: Taylor & Travis
February started with a SuperBowl between brothers where both brothers already had a SuperBowl champion ring, and the winner was the younger brother named Travis. Somewhat known in the celebrity world for having had a dating reality show and hosting SNL, his path crossed with the biggest star of the year, the one and only Taylor Swift. Not only so, but the way their paths crossed could have been taken out of a rom-com: he expressed his wish to give her his number on a friendship bracelet, which was a trend initiated by Swift fans (“Swifties”) inspired by her Midnights song “You’re On Your Own Kid”. So the mastermind got masterminded, and since then, not only have they started dating, but she has attended many of his regular season games (which at least the NFL has embraced, given the increased ratings thanks to the Swifties watching). He had traveled to Argentina for her Eras Tour concert, where she changed the lyrics of Karma as a nod to him, and she ran to his arms to share a kiss, a gesture celebrated by many of her fans. Perhaps we don’t know what the future will hold for them as a couple, but as her fans who’ve been there listening to her romantic experiences turned as songs, we just wish her the best.