Who Will Be Remembered As The Better American Artist? Taylor Swift or Beyonce?
And What Does It Mean To Produce "Great Art?"
What defines great art?
This question has been debated for centuries. There are many facets to consider:
1. Emotional Impact: Great art moves people, evoking strong emotions. Art cannot be considered great if it doesn’t move the crowd.
2. Technical Skill: The technical proficiency with which a piece of art is executed can contribute to its greatness. Mastery of medium, precision, and attention to detail also determine the greatness of artistic expression.
3. Originality: Has someone already done this? If so, it’s just a variation on a theme. Works of art that introduce new techniques, ideas, or perspectives are part of defining greatness.
4. Intellectual Challenge: Great art challenges and pushes us to see the world from different angles, often uncomfortably.
5. Universal Appeal: Great art pierces the veil of identity politics and contemporary cultural struggles. Great art touches on elements of human existence beyond geography, gender, and historical boundaries.
6. Representation of the Zeitgeist: While Universal Appeal is a critical component of great art, effective creative expression must also capture the spirit of the time and concerns or characteristics that can be seen as great because of its historical or cultural relevance.
7. Durability: Great Art lasts beyond the mercurial pleasure and obsession of the generation in which it was conceived.
8. Influence: If a work of art inspires other artists or sparks a movement, it's on the way to greatness.
9. Intention and Message: The underlying message or intention behind the art, and its clarity, can contribute to its greatness.
10. Complexity: Great art is often a prism. It can seem simple on the surface, but at a closer glance, it becomes complex with multiple layers of meaning. Alternatively, something that seems very complex initially can often be reduced to simple ideas. This conversion from simplicity to complexity makes a great work of art universally accepted by diverse human beings.
11. Personal Connection: At its core, art is subjective. One might consider a piece of art great simply because of its profound personal connection.1
12. Context: The social, political, and cultural context in which a piece of art is created or displayed influences the perception of its greatness.
13. Ethical Considerations: In some discussions, the ethics of how art is produced, its messages, and its impact on society or individuals might be considered, though I personally believe this is better applied in retrospect, a generation or two later.
Let’s take these attributes of great art and apply them to two of the most popular and financially successful contemporary artists. We will intend to determine if their art can be considered “great” by the above standards.
Picture a young American girl whose parents were working-class professionals who recognized their child’s talent early and supported it to the point where they broke out as a spectacle on the national and global stage.
Am I talking about Beyoncé or Taylor? This is a trick question because the answer is “Both.” That’s right, T. Swift and B. Knowles have the same origin story. They were bitten by the same radioactive spider, so to speak now.
While their origin stories are the same on the surface, these two artists grew to artistic maturity in very different backgrounds. I want to be clear that this is not a story about racial differences but one of cultural differences.
Who Is The Better Artist? Taylor Swift or Beyonce?
This question began as a conversation with another critic. Their position was that Beyonce’s music was all swagger. Look how beautiful and rich I am. Everyone wants to fuck me! And they held that Taylor Swift’s narrative personae was one of the loser and the broken-hearted, which is far more universal. It was a fascinating, deep conversation that I couldn’t stop thinking about, which prompted me to take the time to compose this essay.
Beyonce
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles was born in Houston, Texas, on September 4, 1981. She grew up in the Third Ward, a historically black neighborhood in Houston. During the 1980s, Third Ward was typical of many centers of black urban culture, exploding in artistic expression amidst crime and drug turmoil. Beyoncé did not come from significant wealth, but her mother and father were working-class professionals who loved and supported their child in developing her obvious talents through youth.
In 1990, Beyonce was part of a girl’s music group called Girl’s Tyme. This group was later renamed Destiny’s Child and became the most massively successful girl’s group to date. In 2003, Beyonce released her first solo album ‘Dangerously in Love. Since then, Beyonce has established and maintained her position as one of the most important artists of the modern age. But what does her art mean to the world?
Taylor
Taylor Alison Swift was born in Reading, Pennsylvania, on December 13, 1989. She spent most of her childhood and early artistic career between PA and Nashville, TN. Her father was a stockbroker for Merrill Lynch, and her mother was a mutual fund marketing executive. The Swifts were likely more financially comfortable than the Knowles, but these young girls’ pursuit of music was equally focused and intense. Like Beyoncé, Taylor Swift had the full support of her parents.
Also, like Beyoncé, by age 10, Taylor was performing on stage. At 14, she signed a music publishing deal with Sony/ATV, making her the youngest signing in the company's history. Shortly after, she signed with Big Machine Records and scored her first Top 40 hit with Tim McGraw when she was 16.
In 2006, three years after Beyoncé released her first album at 23, Taylor released her self-titled debut album at 17. Taylor Swift's journey from a young country singer-songwriter to a global pop sensation is marked by strategic evolution, fierce determination, and an uncanny knack for capturing universal emotions in her lyrics. Her narrative-driven songs have resonated with millions, making her one of the defining artists of her generation. But is her art “Great?” Will it still be listened to because it resonates with humans a hundred years from now?
Now, let’s treat art like a sport. We will consider and apply the facets of great art I laid out earlier to these artists' current library of commercial-artistic expression. You will grant arbitrary points to one or the other or call it even, so neither gets the point. This is arbitrary and based solely on our unique opinions. Here is your scorecard with insights intended to be helpful.
Emotional Impact
TS
+ Her songs are deeply personal, often narrating her experiences, making many fans feel connected to her music.
BK
+ With powerful ballads and anthems, Beyoncé’s music frequently elicits strong emotional responses, addressing themes from heartbreak to empowerment.
Point: _____ because _____
Technical Skill
TS
+ Showcases her prowess in songwriting and has developed her vocal techniques over the years.
+ She plays the guitar and has a heavy hand composing her music.
+ She has become known for intricate live performances involving heavy spectacle.
BK
+ Recognized for her strong vocal ability.
+ Also known for her intricate live performances involving heavy spectacle.
Point: _____ because _____
Originality
TS
+ Transitioned from country to pop to indie, indicating a capacity for reinvention.
BK
+ Consistently pushes boundaries, notably with her visual albums like "Lemonade."
Intellectual Challenge
TS
Her lyrics often contain layered meanings and references that fans enjoy decoding, which are mostly universal.
BK
Her albums dive deep into cultural, racial, and gender themes.
Point: _____ because _____
TS
+ Has a global fanbase.
+ Her transition between genres has expanded her reach.
BK
+ As part of Destiny's Child and as a solo artist, she has achieved worldwide acclaim.
Point: _____ because _____
Representation of the Zeitgeist
TS
+ Songs like "The Man" touch on contemporary issues such as gender inequality.
BK
+ Works like "Formation" engage directly with cultural and political moments.
Durability
TS
+ Songs from her early career, like "Love Story," remain popular.
BK
+ Hits like "Single Ladies" and "Halo" continue to be celebrated.
Point: _____ because _____
Influence
TS
+ She has influenced a generation of songwriters and pop artists of all genders, races, religions, and backgrounds.
BK
+ Frequently cited as an influence by artists across genres for her music and performance style.
Point: _____ because _____
Intention and Message
TS
+ The primary themes of her music are love, growth, and self-reflection.
BK
+ Tackles broader societal issues, particularly concerning race and womanhood.
Point: _____ because _____
Complexity
TS
+ Her albums often have a cohesive narrative, weaving intricate stories.
BK
+ Introduces complex visual and auditory elements, making her works ripe for interpretation.
Point: _____ because _____
Personal Connection
TS
+ Known for her intimate fan relationship, with songs often feeling like diary entries.
BK
+ While perhaps more private in her personal life, her artistry connects deeply with many, especially in her expressions of cultural identity.
Point: _____ because _____
Context
TS
+ Her work is often viewed in the context of her personal life and the media's portrayal of her.
BK
+ Her art is frequently analyzed in the context of black culture, feminism, and historical narratives.
Point: _____ because _____
Ethical Considerations
TS
+ Has been involved in various philanthropic efforts and has recently been more vocal about political and social issues.
- She flies private jets, and her carbon footprint is bigger than some U.S. Cities.
BK
+ Continuously champions black culture and empowerment
+ Involved in various charitable causes.
Point: _____ because _____
So Who Is the Better Artist?
Regardless of how each artist fared on your scorecard, there is one answer to this question, “Neither and Both.”
Art is not a zero-sum game. No one can dictate how another person perceives art. This is why art criticism has turned into dogshit in our modern age because it is mostly focused on telling other people what they can’t love and why they can’t love it. And that shit is whack! So fuck any critic who does that. The New Critic says, “Both artists have produced what can be intellectually and emotionally validated as great art.”
And as for ethics? Well, we can each do better there.
Taylor Swift and Beyonce have produced incredible commercial art over the past two decades. Their work continues to have a comprehensive emotional impact around the world. Their technical skills and originality continue to flourish with each new album. Their music and the images they select to present their ideas are deeply in tune with the zeitgeist of our moment together. Their artistic expressions appeal to everyone and specifically to marginalized groups of the damaged and the lonely, giving voices to those who have none. Their art is both cultural and personal simultaneously, often simple, but with the potential for deeper complexity through study applied with appreciation over time. And finally, this is what good art criticism must become if it is to remain relevant, appreciating art with seriousness over time beyond the juvenile game of Who Is Better?
