We’re taking it back to high school this week and exploring the country phenomenon that is Love Story. This is our first track from Fearless (2008), and Uncle Jerry explores all of the themes and tropes that are missing from the poem when compared to her current work, like complex metaphors and twisted idioms.Works Cited:Romeo and Juliet – William Shakespeare – Affiliate LinkCatullus – Roman PoetLet Us Live and Love (5) – CatullusThe Scarlet Letter – Nathaniel Hawthorne – Aff LinkEasy A (2010)Doctor Zhivago – Boris Pasternak – Aff LinkDeconstructionismFollow Us:YouTubeTikTokInstagramAngela’s Instagram
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54:57
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54:57
The Cinematic Imagery of Father Figure
Step into our office and leave it with us. We protect the family! Join us as we walk through Father Figure from The Life of a Showgirl. Uncle Jerry gives his theories on the inspiration for the song, including many different movies, and Angela works out where she thinks the narrator changes mid-track.Pour yourself some brown liquor and you won’t be sleeping with the fishes.Works Cited:A Star is Born – All Versions RankedAll About Eve (1950)Goodfellas (1990)The Godfather (1972)The Freshman (1990)Ragged Dick: The 1868 Classic Rags to Riches Tale – Horatio Alger – Affiliate LinkFollow Us:YouTubeTikTokInstagramAngela’s Instagram
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1:05:34
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1:05:34
The Reinterpretation of The Fate of Ophelia
We have officially entered our Showgirl era, and we’re kicking it off with The Fate of Ophelia. Uncle Jerry teaches us all about Ophelia’s role in Hamlet, one of the Ophelia paintings Taylor may have drawn inspiration from, and a couple of feminist critics’ takes on Ophelia. We then get into the song, Angela weaves in a few nuggets of Tay-lore, and they round it out by discussing the feminist issues with the track, watching the music video and listening to the voice memo of the writing of the song. Works Cited:Hamlet – William Shakespeare – Affiliate LinkWhat are Foil Characters?Representing Ophelia: Women, Madness, and the Responsibilities of Feminist Criticism – Elaine ShowalterHearing Ophelia: Gender and Tragic Discourse in "Hamlet" – Sandra K. FischerDesolation Row – Bob DylanThe Story of Ophelia – The TatePre-Raphaelite Women – Jan MarshDante Gabriel Rossetti – Ash RussellThe Essential Pre-Raphaelites – Lucinda Hawksley – Aff LinkThe Language of Flowers – Margaret Pickston – Aff LinkThe Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady – Edith Holden – Aff LinkThe King’s Two Bodies – Ernst Kantorowicz – Aff LinkFollow Us:YouTubeTikTokInstagramAngela’s Instagram
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1:19:25
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1:19:25
The Sensory Imagery of Maroon
We are wiping the incense dust off the shelf and picking ourselves up off the floor with Maroon this week. This Midnights track from 2022 is full of imagery, senses, colors, and so much more. Uncle Jerry also surprises us all with an interpretation from left field, which allows Angela the space to explain a specific sect of swifties.Enjoy!Works Cited:Richard Wright – Black American novelistParallelism in LiteratureRobert Frost – The Road Not TakenRobert Frost – Stopping By Woods on a Snowy EveningLawrence Ferlinghetti – American Beat poetGregory Corso – American Beat poetJack Kerouac – American Beat poetOn The Road – Jack KerouacFollow Us:YouTubeTikTokInstagramAngela’s Instagram
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53:12
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53:12
The Growth and Healing of Clean
We’re coming down from our Showgirl high, and taking it back to 1989 this week. Uncle Jerry takes us through Clean, and breaks down the metaphors and themes found in the poem, including addiction, healing, personal growth, and personal agency.He also asks Angela who this song was inspired by, and admits that he’s now wondering about that in all of these songs. :) There are links below to (most of!) the recommended literature from the episode. Some links are affiliate links, which means if you click and purchase, we will make a small commission at no cost to you.Works Cited:Metaphors We Live By – George Lakoff and Mark JohnsonThe Great War and Modern Memory – Paul FussellNot Waving but Drowning – Stevie SmithAfterwards – Sara TeasdaleAfter Love – Sara TeasdaleFollow Us:YouTubeTikTokInstagramAngela’s Instagram
A weekly podcast exploring the lyrics, lore, and literary legacy of Taylor Swift. Hosted by Angela McDow, the Swiftie, and Dr. Jerry Coats, the Scholar, we read between the lines AND the liner notes. Join us each week for lyrical deep dive through Taylor Swift's eras.
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