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Saint Stephen I just wrote you a paean: Signifier and signified in Hey Stephen

Swift, a philosopher of language, explores the relationship between a name and what it signifies by fully exploring the meaning of 'Stephen'

Swift's Theology of Noise Music in Our Song

In Our Song, noted music theorist Taylor Swift grapples with the question “What is Music?”

Should've Said Know: Swift's Socratic Masterpiece

Swift, a Platonic philosopher, transforms a story of infidelity into a brilliant illustration of the Socratic idea that Virtue = Knowledge.

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Swift's Theology of Noise Music in Our Song

In Our Song, noted music theorist Taylor Swift grapples with the question “What is Music?”

The Time Traveler's Wife: Visiting the Past in Mary's Song (Oh My My My)

Swift, a metaphysician, uses Mary’s narrative as an opportunity to revisit the theme from a universe where the relationship did not end.

Should've Said Know: Swift's Socratic Masterpiece

Swift, a Platonic philosopher, transforms a story of infidelity into a brilliant illustration of the Socratic idea that Virtue = Knowledge.

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Missed Connections and Crossed Wires: Communication Breakdowns in Stay Beautiful

The Basics Like Tied Together with a Smile, Stay Beautiful is addressed to a young person who doesn’t know that they are beautiful. This...

A Penny for your Thoughts: Epistemology of the Self in Tied Together with a Smile

The Basics Taylor Swift addresses Tied Together with a Smile to a young woman who doesn’t know (oh-oh) that she’s beautiful. In the...

Two Roads Diverged in a TSwift Song: The Outside's Meta-Analysis of Robert Frost

The Basics On the surface, The Outside is the third in a trio of songs that use place as a device for exploring themes of loneliness....

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The Cold Does Bother Her Anyway: Inaccessible Men in Cold as You

The Basics Cold as You is the fifth song on Taylor Swift’s debut album — a slot that Swift generally reserves for a particularly...

Taylor's Shift to Geospatial Analysis: A Place in this World

The Basics: The verses of A Place in this World depict a narrator who is seeking despite not knowing precisely what she hopes to find....

Look but don't See: Teardrops on my Guitar

The Basics: Taylor Swift is in love with Drew. Drew doesn’t know how Taylor Swift feels and tells her about his beautiful girlfriend....

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Swift Vengeance Waits: Picture to Burn

Recap: Picture to Burn is Taylor Swift’s second song and first revenge anthem — the first foray into a genre that will become a Swiftian...

Tim[e] McGraw: A Deconstruction of Music and Memory

Recap: Taylor Swift’s first song, Tim McGraw, uses a complex structure to reflect on whether past relationships stay in the past or live...

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