It is uncanny how similar our trajectory is re. Taylor!! I've never heard anyone else articulate that they love TTPD because it's the first Taylor album that came out post becoming-a-Swiftie, but that's exactly how I feel. I taught a course on the poetics of Taylor Swift last fall and I was so taken aback that the students just did not like that album. Have you read Caro Burke's substack on it? Really interesting take from someone whose a long time Swiftie. Anyway--super glad to have found your substack!
It was interesting--they said they couldn't relate to a lot of the experiences she writes about either because 1. They just hadn't had that life experience yet (some actually told me their moms had to explain parts of the album to them, especially the stuff about dating a guy whose too old for you or ending a really long relationship). Or 2. Because they felt alienated by the way she discusses her fame and especially by the songs that call out the fans. They really struggled with how they felt about the crowd participation during "I Can Do It With A Broken Heart" in Eras. I felt like their most legit point was that some of the metaphors are just so overwrought--in particular the "roll the stone away" line.
Interesting! I can imagine feeling read or targeted by it, especially in "But Daddy I love Him." And it feels more grownup, like she uses the most curse words etc. Totally agree about overwrought metaphors and overall wordiness.
It is uncanny how similar our trajectory is re. Taylor!! I've never heard anyone else articulate that they love TTPD because it's the first Taylor album that came out post becoming-a-Swiftie, but that's exactly how I feel. I taught a course on the poetics of Taylor Swift last fall and I was so taken aback that the students just did not like that album. Have you read Caro Burke's substack on it? Really interesting take from someone whose a long time Swiftie. Anyway--super glad to have found your substack!
Omg! Need to read Caro Burke. What didn't your students like about TTPD?
It was interesting--they said they couldn't relate to a lot of the experiences she writes about either because 1. They just hadn't had that life experience yet (some actually told me their moms had to explain parts of the album to them, especially the stuff about dating a guy whose too old for you or ending a really long relationship). Or 2. Because they felt alienated by the way she discusses her fame and especially by the songs that call out the fans. They really struggled with how they felt about the crowd participation during "I Can Do It With A Broken Heart" in Eras. I felt like their most legit point was that some of the metaphors are just so overwrought--in particular the "roll the stone away" line.
Interesting! I can imagine feeling read or targeted by it, especially in "But Daddy I love Him." And it feels more grownup, like she uses the most curse words etc. Totally agree about overwrought metaphors and overall wordiness.