Taylor Swift: Symbolic Self-Portraiture, Archetypes, and Tragedy in Lyricism

Jul 13, 2025

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This week, join Kate as she returns to form (2+ hour early BTI5-style rambling) by going through an old PowerPoint she found on her computer about Taylor Swift’s evolution from diary-style songwriter to mythological storyteller through increasingly complex literary references. From "Love Story" fairytale princess to The Albatross and Cassandra the cursed prophet, how has Taylor deliberately written herself into literary archetypes as both artistic strategy and psychological self-defense? TLDR; a chaotic TS deep dive with a (hopefully) entertaining payoff about why our "crazy" fan behavior might actually be anthropologically normal.

Topics covered:

The difference between symbolic self-portraiture and literal autobiography
Greek gods vs. monotheistic religious figures (and why it matters for fandom behavior)
Guillermo del Toro's quote about Taylor's "deep interest in fable and myth"
Why "Mastermind" is more about childhood loneliness than strategic planning
"The Albatross" and the Rime of the Ancient Mariner
Why treating artists like gods can be dehumanizing in the name of protection
Finding self-acceptance and/or collective empowerment at pop concerts
A bathroom floor monologue about fairytales and personal authority
And so much more!

Enjoy!

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