"I'm not a princess, this ain't a fairy tale." What happens when we look at Taylor Swift's music through the lens of high school—specifically, the cultural phenomenon that is “High School Musical”? This week, we explore how adolescence shapes storytelling in literature, film, and music. From the fairy tale expectations in "White Horse" to the transformative power of "Change" to the nostalgia of "So High School," we discuss how Taylor's perspective on high school has evolved over time, and why these coming-of-age narratives continue to resonate across generations.
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Mentioned in this episode:
The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger
A Separate Peace, John Knowles
The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Stephen Chbosky
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Episode Highlights
[01:08] Why High School Musical?
[02:42] Adolescence as a theme in literature
[07:22] "White Horse" and Gabriella's fairy tale
[20:09] "Change" and high school transformation
[29:20] "So High School" and looking at teenage love as an adult
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This podcast is neither related to nor endorsed by Taylor Swift, her companies, or record labels. All opinions are our own. Intro music produced by Scott Zadig aka Scotty Z.
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