#sorry to kinda just restate ur point but i think the marketing machine plays a massive part in this

[lemony-lilly-2]

part of it is the marketing machine trying to push this image of taylor as the ultimate songwriter, a narrative that is furthered by her allegedly having gone through these things she sings about, despite that not being a prerequisite to writing these songs

When I was in middle school, someone told me that Taylor Swift’s Mean was about her relationship with her (allegedly) shitty dad, and I grew up thinking that even if the work itself was kind of lame at the very least she had some experience with childhood abuse that inspired her work and she was speaking to young people who had similar experiences. Upon investigation just now, it appears she wrote that song about nobody and when pressed says it’s a response to “da haters”. I already suspected that all the things people like Taylor Swift’s music for are projected onto it by themselves, but I guess that kinda proves it, doesn’t it.

possibly this is just me speaking as Mean enjoyer (Speak Now as an album doesn't do much for me, but it's a fun catchy little bop) but I guess I don't understand why a song has to be rooted in a real tragedy to validate existing. I guess Swift kind of sets herself up for it by constantly talking about how her songwriting is super personal and basically her diary, but I also don't think it's particularly egregious for a 20 year old who's been heavily scrutinized since her teens to release a slightly dorky little anthem about beating the haters. it's unbelievably silly when she does it now, of course, but Mean came out 14 years ago at an extremely different point in her life. idk I think it's fine.