I could probably sing a couple of bars from a Taylor Swift song. Don't feel bad, I'm not the target demographic, but when you're everywhere like she is, people are going to hear you, whether they actually hear you sing or not.
And what I'm hearing from other men and women about Swift is that the internet is forcing an increasingly unjust and uncomfortable silence on the women they know about Taylor – about the person, the artist, the phenomenon – especially in the wake of her support of Donald Trump's rival for the White House.
And it is hard to imagine that someone close to him could openly represent the views of female citizens who are secretly resisting conscription into the Taylor cult.
What's the dirty secret about the Taylor Swift all-out press phenomenon? A growing number of women are suffering in silence, under the shadow of what increasingly feels like a formal obligation to support, celebrate, ally and fangirl in all manner of Taylor, physical and corporate.
I've heard this story from former Swift fans, even before they gained support: the inescapability, the triumphalism, the complacency, the relentlessness, the fandom, the conformity, the robotic, premeditated, publicly-directed quality of the image and messaging, and, oddly, even unsettling. “Witchy” It's not easily explained, but it is a love spell after all. You have to like me.
In the absence of solid, peer-reviewed scientific studies on the subject (does anyone really still believe in that?), I thought I'd let this mysterious situation fade into the background until the next time someone raised an eyebrow and mentioned it.
But then…Trump.
His instantly classic social media post, “I hate Taylor Swift!”, can be interpreted in a variety of ways, but for me it first appeared as a laughable example of postmodern earnestness in the same vein as his “I hate Mondays!” post on X.com.
Of course, I can't agree with that sentiment (because I don't hate anyone), but this other Trump supporters have always said they love that he speaks his mind. What they really love is that he speaks his mind. Their heart.
And it is hard to imagine that someone close to him could openly represent the views of female citizens who are secretly resisting conscription into the Taylor cult.
Maybe I'm crazy here, but the logic makes sense. In a digitally dominated neo-feudal world, we must find feudal lords for protection in the Dungeons and Dragons realms of identity, speech, expression, reputation (ahem), etc. Is there anyone other than Trump who is strong enough in identity, speech, etc. to openly protect the silent majority of women(?) who feel deep and deep psychological discomfort with the Taylor Cult? Even setting aside overt partisan issues entirely, is there anyone other than Trump? Wow!
And if I'm right and this somehow becomes a topic of public conversation, I think the outcome will follow the pattern of the times: not a debate about “facts on the ground,” but a cosmic debate about whether it's a bad thing or a good thing.
Personally, I've grown Kelsey's moustache before (and may do so again) and am willing to forgive her a little for her regal quickness. Then again, not the target demographic. Forcing Taylor to have fun is not exactly like what men typically impose or force on each other. But I feel like what I'm hearing is true and that society is only just beginning to seriously address this issue.
P.S. In this age of cloning, it's hard not to think one step further ahead and consider what would happen if the forced Taylor fun really, obviously worked: They'd do it again with someone else, and next time they'd be more like priestesses than entertainers.
