AP Taylor Swift

Bonus: "The Tortured Poets Department" Album Release Recap

All’s fair in love and poetry. The long-awaited album The Tortured Poets Department is officially out, and of course, we have thoughts! This bonus episode strays from our usual format to bring you as comprehensive of an overview as we can provide in one (rather long) episode. Be warned: you won’t find speculation about Taylor’s love life here. True to our usual content, we focus on the lyrics, the themes, and the literary choices Taylor makes to better understand what this album is all about. Join us as we give our first reactions, talk about Taylor’s “In Summation poem,” and briefly dissect a handful of songs that stood out to each of us.
 
Mentioned in this episode: 
Check out our “The Tortured Poets Department” Booklist on Bookshop.org/APTS
E29: Show and Tell - Aestheticism
E27: Show and Tell - Poetic Repetition
E23: Show and Tell - Mad Women
E7: Show and Tell - Ecocriticism
Bonus: "The Tortured Poets Department" Announcement
E32: Deep Dive - Love Story 
 
Episode Highlights:
[02:48] Our initial album reactions
[17:22] “In Summation” Poem overview
[29:53] Is this what we expected TTPD to be?
[38:16] loml 
[44:39] I Can Do It With a Broken Heart
[53:24] So High School
[56:34] Florida!!!
[59:20] Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?
[01:05:04] Down Bad
[01:13:28] So Long, London
[01:18:27] But Daddy I Love Him
[01:27:00] How Did It End?
[01:37:49] The Manuscript
[01:46:08] What do we think the album is about?
 
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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.

E32: Deep Dive - Love Story

You were Romeo, I was a Scarlet Letter. This week we’re covering an oldie but goodie–Taylor Swift’s “Love Story”, from Fearless (Taylor’s Version). In this very narrative-driven song, we get a chance to explore who the protagonists are and what they’re trying to say about their love “story.  We explore why Taylor Swift references high school favorites “Romeo and Juliet” and “Scarlet Letter,” and what those metaphors may mean. The “Scarlet Letter” reference makes us look at this song from a whole new lens, forcing us to look at pronouns, verb tenses, and points of view–we promise you’ll never hear this song the same way again. 
 
Mentioned in this episode: 
Love Story, Fearless (Taylor’s Version) 
Romeo and Juliet
Titanic
The Notebook 
Tarzan of the Apes
Tim McGraw
Enchanted
Pride and Prejudice 
Cinderella
How I Met Your Mother
Scarlet Letter
Easy A
I Did Something Bad
Jane Eyre
Emma
& Juliet 
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead
Don’t Matter, Akon
 
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Libro.fm - Looking for an audiobook? Check out our Libro.fm playlist and use code APTS30 for 30% off books found here tinyurl.com/aptslibro
 
***
 
Episode Highlights: 
[1:30] How we do a deep dive
[08:19] “You’ll be the prince and I’ll be the princess” The fairytale references
[14:50] “I was a Scarlet Letter” What this reference may mean
[20:32] “All that’s left to do is run” Where it all takes a turn
[28:42] “When I met you on the outside of town” We approach the bridge
[41:11] What we think the purpose of “Love Story” really is
Subscribe to get new episode updates: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe
 
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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.

E31: Show and Tell - Shakespeare

Fever dream high in the quiet of the night. What’s an AP class without a not-so-brief discussion about Shakespeare? Join us as we compare Taylor Swift to William Shakespeare, and find out why we think Shakespeare may have been the original pop star of his day. Shakespeare’s plays remain so relevant even today, so it’s only natural that Taylor Swift would find ways to allude to his works in her music. In this Show & Tell, we each pick one Shakespeare play and a Taylor Swift song that we feel best references and represents that play. Maansi ties Romeo & Juliet to “Love Story” (Fearless 2008), Jenn talks us through Julius Caesar references in “Bad Blood” (Reputation 2017), and Jodi draws parallels between Midsummer Night’s Dream and “Cruel Summer” (Lover 2019). We really put the AP in APTS with this discussion so push up your reading glasses, dust off your old Shakespeare text books, and get ready to get nerdy with us!
 
Mentioned in this episode: 
William Shakespeare
The Tempest, William Shakespeare
The Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey Chaucer
Come Clean, Hilary Duff
Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare
Love Story, Fearless 2008
William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet, 1996 film version
Romeo and Juliet, 1968 film version
Jenn’s Zac Efron version of 1960 Romeo and Juliet
West Side Story
Bad Blood, Reputation 2017
Shakespeare Birth Trust TL;DR
Folger Shakespeare Library
Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare
Julius Caesar, Performed at the Globe Theater, 2015
Bridgerton
Shakespeare in a Divided America, by James Shapiro
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, William Shakespeare
A Midsummer Night’s Dream 1999 film version 
Cruel Summer, Lover 2019
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Libro.fm - Looking for an audiobook? Check out our Libro.fm playlist and use code APTS30 for 30% off books found here tinyurl.com/aptslibro
 
***
 
Episode Highlights: 
[01:00] Shakespeare: The original pop artist
[09:38] Romeo & Juliet’s Love Story
[30:34] Julius Caesar’s Bad Blood
[51:06] Cruel Midsummer Night’s Dream
 
Subscribe to get new episode updates: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe
 
Follow us on social! 
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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.

E30: Deep Dive - gold rush

What must it be like to grow up that beautiful? In this episode, we deep dive into the beautiful “gold rush.” We dive into the historical context of the real-life gold rush and how the gold rush was presented to us as kids versus today as adults. Then, we dive into how the reality of history affects how we interpret this song. We also explore how fame or popularity connects to this song. Finally, we examine the siren call motif and the speaker's ultimate decision to resist the temptation of the gold rush. Ultimately, our takeaway is the importance of agency, boundaries, and the speaker’s decision to not engage with a gold rush. 
 
Mentioned in this episode: 
Oregon Trail (website)
Empty Mansions by Bell Deadman and Paul Clark Newell
Mean Girls
Harry Potter series
Mythology by Edith Hamilton
Glee
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
Villette by Charlotte Bronte
“You’re Beautiful” by James Blunt
Affiliate Codes: 
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Libro.fm - Looking for an audiobook? Check out our Libro.fm playlist and use code APTS30 for 30% off books found here tinyurl.com/aptslibro
 
***
 
Episode Highlights: 
[05:15] - Introduction to historical context of the gold rush 
[09:12] - The speaker’s perspective
[14:38] - The temptation to “jump in” 
[24:08] - The siren call
[31:10] - The structure of the song
[38:52] - The convenience of a dream
[48:50] - Is this person worth it?
Subscribe to get new episode updates: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe
 
Follow us on social! 
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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.

E29: Show and Tell - Aestheticism

Every bait and switch was a work of art. It’s time to get theoretical! In this week’s episode, we cover Aesthetic Theory–the experience of beauty, for the sake of beauty. Jodi starts us off quite literally with “Gorgeous” from reputation (2017). This prompts a discussion of “The Picture of Dorian Gray” by Oscar Wilde, and the similarities between the song’s obsession with the subject’s beauty, and the book’s fixation on the beauty and youth of Dorian Gray. Naturally, we talk about gender roles and the negative sides of focusing exclusively on a person’s beauty. Then, Jenn brings in “willow” from evermore (2020) as an example of a song that gave her an aesthetic experience. And Maansi brings it home with “gold rush,” also from evermore (2020), focusing on the detailed, artistic descriptions of beauty throughout the song. 
Mentioned in this episode: 
“The Picture of Dorian Gray,” Oscar Wilde 
“The Giver,” Lois Lowry 
“The Giver” movie
“Gorgeous,” reputation 
“willow,” folklore
“gold rush,” folklore
The Aeneid, Virgil
The Pit and the Pendulum, Edgar Allen Poe
The Odyssey, Homer 
 
Important definitions: 
Aestheticism: aestheticism promoted an "art for art's sake" philosophy, celebrating beauty as free of moral or utilitarian considerations
Hedonism: the pursuit of pleasure; sensual self-indulgence.
Ekphrasis: the use of detailed description of a work of visual art as a literary device. 
 
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***
 
Episode Highlights: 
[01:10] Introduction to Aestheticism 
[08:59] “Gorgeous,” reputation 
[26:03] “willow,” evermore
[40:37] “gold rush,” evermore
 
Subscribe to get new episode updates: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe
 
Follow us on social! 
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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.
 

E28: Deep Dive - Shake It Off

That’s What People Say (ooh ooh). In this deep dive episode, we get into the groove of Taylor Swift's “Shake It Off” from her album 1989 (Taylor’s Version). We start by discussing how the song acts as a strategic move by Swift to rebrand herself as a pop artist and connect with a larger audience. We look at how Taylor addresses the haters and criticisms she’s received over the years through her lyrics. And we make the case that this is not a simple song–it’s a therapeutic anthem of resilience, empowerment, and growth. Jodi and Jenn get flashbacks to grad school thinking about this song, and Maansi…well, listen to hear what Maansi really thinks about this song. 
Mentioned in this episode: 
“Shake It Off”
How Taylor Swift Made Me a Better Marketer
The Spare
Clare @colormelovely
Mean 
TIME Person of the Year profile
Risky Business, the rock band at Ross
Mean Girls
 
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***
Episode Highlights: 
[02:15] How “Shake It Off” fits into Taylor’s musical catalog 
[07:01] “It’s gonna be alright” 
[10:44] Taylor as a marketing GENIUS
[16:41] “I stay out too late”
[22:52] Looking at this song 10 years later
[30:30] Was there another option as the first single?
[37:25] The purpose of the song
Subscribe to get new episode updates: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe
 
Follow us on social! 
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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.

E27: Show and Tell - Poetic Repetition

You go talk to your friends, talk to my friends, talk to me. Let’s get ready for "The Tortured Poets Department" and explore the concept of poetic repetition in Taylor Swift's songs. From understanding epizeuxis and anaphora to seeing how Taylor uses these devices in “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”’ “Shake It Off” and “This Love,” we discuss how repetition can seem deceptively simple while still communicating a clear message. Understanding the purpose of any text can help enrich your experience of that art, and this week’s episode helps us understand the power of some of Taylor’s less complicated lyrics. Tune into this week’s conversation to see why simplicity can be powerful, and perhaps we may even convince you to appreciate a song you don’t necessarily want to listen to on repeat. 
Note: This episode was recorded before the "The Tortured Poets Department" announcement. We hope it helps us all prepare for the album!
 
Helpful definitions:
Epizeuxis (a.k.a. palilogia) - the immediate repetition of a word or phrase for rhetorical or poetic effect. For example, "the children squealed with glee, with glee” or “Shake it off, shake it off”
Anaphora - repetition of a word or expression at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, sentences, or verses especially for rhetorical or poetic effect. For example, Lincoln's "we cannot dedicate—we cannot consecrate—we cannot hallow—this ground.” OR “Please don’t be in love with someone else, please don’t have somebody waiting on you.” 
Epistrophe - repetition of a word or expression at the end of successive phrases, clauses, sentences, or verses especially for rhetorical or poetic effect. For example, Lincoln's "of the people, by the people, for the people.” or “And it was enchanting to meet you / All I can say is it was enchanting to meet you” 
 
Mentioned in this episode: 
Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
King Lear by William Shakespeare
Walden by Thoreau 
Macbeth by William Shakespeare
Mean Girls 
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
Friends
 
Looking for an audiobook? Check out our Libro.fm playlist tinyurl.com/aptslibro
 
Affiliate Codes: 
Libro.fm: 
Receive 2 audiobook credits for $14.99 USD with your first month of membership by using the code APTS - Redeem here or at tinyurl.com/aptslibro 
Get 30% off any audiobook from the AP Taylor Swift playlist with the code APTS30 - Audiobooks eligible for promo code found here: tinyurl.com/aptslibro
***
 
Episode Highlights: 
[01:25] Introduction to Poetic Repetition
[06:43] “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” Red (Taylor’s Version)
[22:00] “Shake It Off,” 1989 (Taylor’s Version)
[40:45] “This Love,” 1989 (Taylor’s Version)
 
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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.

E26: Deep Dive - Haunted

"It’s coming over you like it was all a big mistake." In this week’s episode, we dive into the Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) classic “Haunted.” We discuss how Taylor Swift’s song captures the haunting and fragile nature of relationships, the devastation of loss, and the immediate aftermath of a breakup. In true form, we also tie the idea of a haunting break up back to our careers, and what it can feel like when you are constantly wondering “what if” about your past decisions. Whether you want some strong emotions or a bit of verb tense analysis, we get into it all in our conversation about “Haunted.” 
 
Mentioned in this episode: 
Broadway Sings Taylor Swift
Phantom of the Opera
Romeo and Juliet 
Madeline 
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
“The Crown” Netflix
"The Year of Taylor Swift” from The Daily
Slaughterhouse Five 
Moulin Rouge 
 
Looking for an audio book? Check out our Libro.fm playlist https://tidd.ly/47uhRVI
***
 
Episode Highlights: 
[00:25] Introduction to "Haunted"
[02:35] The theme of haunting in Taylor’s music
[14:18] When you’re haunted by work or other relationships
[22:24] When you’re haunted by the “what if”
[37:56] The purpose of “Haunted” 
 
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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.

E25: Show and Tell - "Pride and Prejudice"

All they keep asking me, is if I’m gonna be your bride. We’re a literary-focused Taylor Swift podcast, so it was only a matter of time before we brought Jane Austen into the mix. In this episode, we explore three songs in relation to Pride and Prejudice. Jenn focuses on the sisterly relationship between Elizabeth and Jane with “I’m Only Me When I’m With You.” Maansi zooms into the moment Darcy confesses his love to Elizabeth, only to be brutally rebuffed, with the song “Haunted.” And Jodi explores the connections between the societal pressure to get married in Pride and Prejudice and “Lavender Haze.” It is a truth universally acknowledged that any conversation on this podcast will find literary and pop culture references to Taylor Swift, and this episode is no different! 
 
Mentioned in this episode: 
Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
 “I’m Only Me When I’m With You,” Taylor Swift 
& Juliet 
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, Anne Bronte
“Haunted”, Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)
Hamilton
Emma, Jane Austen
“Lavender Haze,” Midnights 
Bridgerton
Looking for an audio book? Check out our Libro.fm playlist https://tidd.ly/47uhRVI
 
***
 
Episode Highlights: 
[01:14] Introduction to Pride and Prejudice
[05:39] “I’m Only Me When I’m With You” - Taylor Swift 
[27:23] “Haunted” - Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)
[43:31] “Lavender Haze” - Midnights 
 
Subscribe to get new episode updates: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe
 
Follow us on social! 
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Libro.fm → https://tidd.ly/47uhRVI
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.

E24: Deep Dive - right where you left me

Did you ever hear about the girl who got frozen? In this week’s deep dive episode, we discuss the evermore bonus track, “right where you left me.” We explore themes of feeling stuck, the haunting presence of the narrator, the plea for help, and how we see attitudes in the song mirrored in society. This beautiful and ultimately sad song also inspired a wide range of references from Elle Woods to Charles Dickens to Foucault. This song definitely has some layers, so join us as we unpack their meaning and ultimately try to get to the purpose of “right where you left me.” 
 
Mentioned in this episode: 
Arrested Development
Ghost (the movie) 
School Spirit (show on Netflix)
"Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens 
The Man Who Can’t Be Moved (song)
"The Notebook" by Nicholas Sparks
"The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde 
"The Age of Adelaide" (film) 
"The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue" 
"Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" by J.K. Rowling
Legally Blonde 
The Last Five Years
"No Exit" by Jean-Paul Sartre
"1984" by George Orwell
"Discipline and Punish" by Foucault 
"Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury 
Jeremy Bentham’s body 
Looking for an audio book? Check out our Libro.fm playlist https://tidd.ly/47uhRVI
***
Episode Highlights: 
[0:35] - Introduction to “right where you left me” 
[2:45] - Setting the scene of the song 
[7:07] - Metaphorically and literally being stuck 
[10:00] - The characters in this song 
[17:50] - “the glass shattered on the white cloth” 
[24:52] - The Panopticon and society’s expectations
[36:15] - Taylor’s use of “haunting” as imagery
[43:09] - The song as a metaphor for mental health 
 
Subscribe to get new episode updates: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe
 
Follow us on social! 
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Libro.fm → https://tidd.ly/47uhRVI
 
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.