top of page


Diogenes the Dragon: Battling Cynicism in Long Live
We know from Swift’s later work that she was a noted scholar of Greek philosophy during this era of her life “You know how to ball / I know Aristotle” (So High School). It is thus worth digging into Swift name dropping a group of people who were deeply upset by her success – the world-denying philosophers known as the Cynics.


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?”
Featured Posts
Search


Oh, Where Oh Where Can My Baby Be: Transforming Presence to Absence in Last Kiss
Swift’s relationship was a physical experience. Since breaking up, the full-bodied physical experience of another person has been replaced by a flattened, empty version. For example, Swift sings: “I’ll watch your life in pictures like I used to watch you sleep.” When they were together, Swift saw a three-dimensional, moving, human being. After the break-up, she will now see him only through static, pixelated representations on an instagram feed.
19 views
0 comments


Baby I’m a Firework: Illuminating Abusive Tactics in Dear John
John relied upon darkness to cover up his misdeeds. Swift becomes a radiant source of light, illuminating not just herself, but a whole town
580 views
0 comments


The Allegory of the Rose: Linear and Cyclical Time in Back to December
In Back To December, Taylor Swift explores decay over time.
358 views
0 comments


I Would Very Much Like to be Excluded from this Narrative: Words vs. Truth in Don't You
Taylor Swift scholar presents a close reading of Don't You.
2,001 views
0 comments


Light’s Out: Astrothesia of the Self in We Were Happy
In We Were Happy, Swift reflects with sadness on what it means to play the role of a setting sun in someone else's life.
154 views
0 comments


What's in a Name: Antonomasia in Mr. Perfectly Fine
Swift has clearly not forgotten Mr. Perfectly Fine yet, but she claims power for herself by replacing his name with twenty-eight sick burns.
342 views
0 comments


Goo All Over Me: Dirty Metaphors from the Vault
In the metaphors and similes in You All Over Me, Taylor Swift paints an increasingly grim series of portraits of herself after a breakup.
528 views
0 comments


I Remember it All Too Well: Eyewitness Testimony in Forever & Always
In Forever & Always, Swift begins to explore a theme that she will perfect in her magnum opus All Too Well.
322 views
0 comments


Your Love is My Drug: Withdrawal Symptoms in The Way I Loved You
In The Way I Loved You, Swift describes her past relationship as if it were a psychedelic drug and she is now experiencing withdrawal.
187 views
0 comments


Love as Life Support: Breaking up Biological Function in Breathe
In Breathe, Taylor Swift describes cessation of biological function at every level – from her whole body to her organs to her very cells.
205 views
0 comments


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...
361 views
1 comment
All Posts
bottom of page