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

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!

TRACK FIVE CHICAGO is on Saturday, July 19. Get your tix here!

Order Kate's NYT Bestselling book, One in a Millennial here!

Text or leave a voicemail for Kate at 775-HEY-BETH!

To pick up my amika favorites, go to loveamika.com/bethereinfive. And for the rest of July, amika is giving Be There in Five listeners a one-time use code for 20% off your first order. Yes, that is TWENTY PERCENT OFF from now through July 31. Just go to my page at loveamika.com/bethereinfive and use code BETHEREINFIVE at checkout. Thanks to amika for supporting the show!

Get ready for Cozy Days! Don’t miss your chance to score Cozy Earth’s biggest discount of the year. From July 11–13, head to cozyearth.com and use code BETHEREINFIVE to get 45% off best-selling, temperature-regulating sheets, apparel, and more. Don’t forget, this deal ends on July 13! For better sleep and a cooler summer, what’s stopping you? Sleep cooler, lounge lighter, stay cozy at Cozy Earth.

(if you listen after July 13, you can get 40% off with code BETHEREINFIVE!)

For a limited time get 40% off your first box PLUS get a free item in every box for life. Go to Hungryroot.com/bethereinfive and use code bethereinfive. That’s Hungryroot.com/bethereinfive, code bethereinfive to get 40% off your first box and a free item of your choice for life.

Head to nordstrom.com to build your Marc Fisher Footwear wish list now, and shop premium styles at an exceptional value online and in-store starting July 12th!

Get healthy, glowing skin for summer with clean, vegan face and body care from OSEA. Get 10% off your first order sitewide