Language Matters | From The Wizard of Oz to Taylor Swift, graphic T-shirts can pack a political or social punch – but only sometimes
- There is a lot going on where fashion and language intersect – such as on T-shirts with phrases and messages printed on them, as worn by singer Taylor Swift
- Graphic tees had their beginnings in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz and became a staple in the 1960s, sometimes as a medium for a political or social statement
Much has been (glitter-gel-) penned about Taylor Swift’s wardrobe over her various album eras, and about her language, including her changing accent, and her lyrics’ symbolism and imagery. There is also a lot going on where fashion and language intersect.
“NOT A LOT GOING ON AT THE MOMENT” was the language conveyed on Swift’s sequinned top worn in her “22” music video’s opening scene, the work of British-based designer Ashish Gupta.
Keywords “A LOT”, “EW”, “NEVER” and “EVER” were bolded in red. Swifties had been hoping that these red letters meant another of her Easter eggs – hidden messages in computer games, software, film, music – which would, anagram-like, eventually spell out her next production plans.
Such graphic T-shirts have, of course, been around for a while.
Their very first appearance was not in the fashion world, but in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, where three minions stuffing the scarecrow wore bright green T-shirts with the word “OZ” in white, and in the 1940s showcasing United States military branch logos.
