BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The Taylor Swift phenomenon is coming to Indiana University.
No, the music megastar isn't performing in Bloomington, but IU is hosting the world's first academic conference about her work and impact on the world around us.
(NOTE: The video above is from a previous report on Tibbs Drive-In hosting Taylor Swift parties for "The Eras Tour" film.)
"Taylor Swift: The Conference Era" will start Nov. 2 with Swift-themed events at IU Bloomington's First Thursdays Fest at the Arts Plaza, followed by a dance party at 9 p.m. at The Back Door.
Conference panels, which begin Friday, Nov. 3 at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, will discuss Swift's "cultural relevance and her influence on pop culture, the economy, gender, fandom, politics, music theory, history and more."
Scholars from IU and other universities will speak on the panels, which are currently sold out, though the university said tickets may be available if some guests aren't able to attend.
The weekend wraps up Sunday, Nov. 5 with a Taylor Swift Artist Market at noon at the Cook Center for Public Arts and Humanities, with vendors selling Swift-related items.
Swift is currently preparing to kick off the international portion of "The Eras Tour," starting with three dates in Argentina Nov. 9-11. The tour returns to the United States next October, with shows in Miami, New Orleans and at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis Nov. 1-3, 2024.
Meanwhile, fans continue to flock to the movie version of her tour, which topped last weekend's box office, earning nearly $100 million, easily the biggest opening for a concert film of all time.
Though Swift seems to be everywhere these days — from stage to screen to the stands at NFL games — organizers confirmed she won't be at the conference in Bloomington.