this is a great piece, and love the concept of your substack! "unmasking of a spectacle" is a great way to put it, and I feel like TTPD's ICDIWABH serves that purpose better than this album, although I did enjoy it.
And yes, I think you are very right that ICDIWABH does this very well indeed. Stylistically that song almost feels like should have been on TLOAS thought, doesn't it? Maybe that's just me. I think both albums do this to some degree. The depression behind being a spectacle and the joy. Like two sides of a coin.
For me, I think How Did It End? Is one of the most poignant looks at the spectacle. The "empathetic hunger" of all the people around her (fans and otherwise) who say "oh no! We're so sorry you are going through this broken heart, can you lay your heart bare and tell us EVERY detail?"
This was such a great piece! I read it Saturday before I'd listened to the album & now that I have, I plan on re-reading. Amidst the weird/bad hot takes, this is refreshing.
this is a great piece, and love the concept of your substack! "unmasking of a spectacle" is a great way to put it, and I feel like TTPD's ICDIWABH serves that purpose better than this album, although I did enjoy it.
just subscribed! if you're at all interested, you might enjoy my piece about the cancellation of powerful women: https://ocdiva.substack.com/p/womand
I'll definitely take a look!
And yes, I think you are very right that ICDIWABH does this very well indeed. Stylistically that song almost feels like should have been on TLOAS thought, doesn't it? Maybe that's just me. I think both albums do this to some degree. The depression behind being a spectacle and the joy. Like two sides of a coin.
For me, I think How Did It End? Is one of the most poignant looks at the spectacle. The "empathetic hunger" of all the people around her (fans and otherwise) who say "oh no! We're so sorry you are going through this broken heart, can you lay your heart bare and tell us EVERY detail?"
Fantastic review, one that thinks, quotes, listens, propounds. Thank you.
That's what I hoped for! The reaction to this album has...lacked nuance.
Excellent writing, years ago I wasn’t much of a fan of Swift. I absolutely love her now. My favorite word is gumption, Swift exemplifies that word.
I'm so glad you enjoyed it! I wrote it with a fever, so I wasn't exactly sure it all made sense, but I wanted it out this weekend 😂
This was such a great piece! I read it Saturday before I'd listened to the album & now that I have, I plan on re-reading. Amidst the weird/bad hot takes, this is refreshing.
Thank you! I'm also so glad it made sense, as I wrote it when I was fighting the flu.
There's been just so many crazy tales on this album. I'm probably over analyzing it myself, but that's what I do 😂