A few songs back, in Electric Touch, Swift argued that an epistemology of hope is necessary to begin a romantic relationship. When all prior relationships have failed, profound optimism is required in order to begin a new one. In Foolish One, Swift explores the dark side of that approach. Profound optimism does not serve Swift in the midst of a brutal situationship – in this case she would have benefited from listening to reason.

"The crowd liked Taylor Swift when she was striving, but they do not like who she has become now that she is successful. Indeed, sitting “behind walls of regret,” Swift does not seem to like this version of herself either."

I Can See You reads as a grown up version of Teardrops On My Guitar. The school has been replaced by the workplace and Swift’s secret thoughts about her colleague inspire sexy thoughts rather than despair. 

Swift thus highlights the power that a single magnetic woman has to change the world around her – whether her name is Emma, Little Miss Sunshine, or Cleopatra. Simultaneously, however, Swift’s intertextual references remind us that with great power comes great responsibility.