The power of passionate people is said to outshine any one subject, but this power isn’t always earned or gained. These folks come in many forms; however, fans have such a strong grasp on the strength in numbers. The ability to force a single person to change their portrayed identity and lifestyle is used far too often on celebrities, performers, and under-acknowledged groups. Some of these influential people have ways to filter and work through the drastic claims or attacks from the press and their fans, while others suffer and fight to not crumble under the pressure.

With identity, there is always a story of how or why one is this way. In a TED demonstration named “The danger of a single story,” given by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, the topic of discussion circled around stories and the types of ways people hear them. This includes well-crafted fantasies to one-sided propaganda causing disagreements and confusion. Adiche puts a magnifying glass on stereotypes and how easy it is for a person to be viewed in an inescapable way. Sharing her experience as a woman of African descent as she strived to publish stories that her publisher viewed as not authentic and gave a prime example to someone thinking people within African culture couldn’t live through the same experiences as those in countries like the United States or Europe. Adiche continued to show how having only a select amount of exposure leads to narrow views that she didn’t want or ask for.

I believe that Adichie’s discussion about the danger of a single story is mirrored and expanded with other types of performers. As we continue with understanding forced identity, we will explore others with similar yet different experiences.

The global phenomenon of Taylor Swift has taken over the music industry and redefined the idea of sticking to one genre. This choice was met with concern by many and led to the public questioning if this was the right choice. Swift went from a young country star to a multi-genre success growing up through her music and portraying her deepest thoughts in a variety of ways. With the constant growth in fans and attention from the press, she has gone through many uncomfortable and stressful situations. With every road bump or twisted story Swift continued to write and even took a full year off when it was needed. Her music has reached an unimaginable number of people and can be interpreted in many ways. One song in particular discusses how Swift continues to perform the longest show and tour of her life even when she was struggling with personal issues behind the scenes saying, how she “can do it with a broken heart” and how she was “so depressed, I act like it’s my birthday”.

A crucial member of the well-known band Fallout Boy, Patrick Stump, changed themselves for what he believed to be for the better but was met with hatred, disgust, and unnecessary comments. This person who had served his loving community for many years was led to convince himself that he agreed with the thoughts of others which negatively affected his mental health.

Works Cited:

Adichie, Chimamanda Ngozi. “The Danger of a Single Story.” TED, YouTube Video, 7 Oct. 2009, www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9Ihs241zeg.

Swift, Taylor. I Can Do It with a Broken Heart. 19 Apr. 2024, https://music.apple.com/us/album/i-can-do-it-with-a-broken-heart-single/1757015576usic.

‌Stump, Patrick. “We Liked You Better Fat: Confessions of a Pariah.” Alternative Press Magazine, www.altpress.com/patrick_stump_essay/.