In recent Clarence Day , the hashtags " # KimExposedTaylorParty " and " # TaylorSwiftIsOverParty " have dance across social medium with accompanying GIFs . In the more somber memes , Swift has been drop as a thwartedScooby Doovillain , a deceasedPretty Little Liarscharacterbeing hauled away in a casket , and – bluntest of all –just a grave accent . The harsh sentiment behind these mocking meme : Taylor Swift is over .
It ’s unlikely Swift will be " dead " for long . Even after two recent controversies – herNils Sjöberg - assisted dust - up with Calvin Harrisand herpublic instruction execution via Snapchat at the hands of Kim Kardashian West– our nation ’s biggest Diet Coke patron is still an unbelievably powerful , democratic , and rich fame . Plus , there ’s nothing the music press know more than a resurrection tale ! But how she reacts to this – in Sung dynasty , on stage , and via societal media – will be pivotal in her ongoing transformation from singer - songwriter to inescapable global phenomenon .
If she wants to stay as relevant as ever – and the prominently publicity - favorable rise of " Hiddleswift " indicate that she does – the1989musician ca n’t afford to be " excluded from this narration , " as shewrote on Instagramearlier this week . Like any politician in crisis , Taylor Swift needs the story . As literary criticism mounts and her carefully cultivated image crumbles , she has two selection : comprehend the villain function , or intromit fault . Either itinerary is perilous , and paved with corny memes . Which adventure will Taylor choose ?
Jason Merritt/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty
Route No. 1: play the heel
To her detractors , Taylor Swift has always been a baddie . Ever since she broke into the mainstream withFearlessin 2008 , her public persona has been predicated on computation , criminal maintenance , and control . In a popping - music landscape that claims to treasure authenticity , that type of cautious management incline to come across as forced to skeptics , and fake to people who Swift would belike touch to as " hater . "
In a 2011New Yorkerprofile , writer Lizzie Widdicombe note , " Swift ’s aura of purity is not an routine , just , but it can now and then belie the ordered series of her succeeder . " In 2016 , it ’s officially an turn – and an onetime one at that . The event of the last mates workweek strongly signal she postulate new schtick . While it ’s difficult to envisage her label , corporate supporter , or PR team jumping on board with the estimate , her next phase could be incredible . You already know what I ’m taking about : a pro - wrestling Hollywood Hogan - stylus cad act that sees her embracing the office she was born to play .
[ Cue the Jimi Hendrix N.W.O. music . ]
Like Hogan in the mid-’90s , Swift has get hold of the tallness of her profession , won all the lustrous championship smash , and has never been more popular , but an enfeeblement has set in . Asmany critics have pointed out , the performative # police squad women’s lib of the1989tour often bordered on self - parody . It ’s assure that Swift mentions " overexposure " in her leaked conversation with West . She know she ’s totter on the sharpness . And , like the Hulkster , she love bandanna .
A heel tour would n’t be all out of character for her , either . The1989release cycle include two video , " Bad Blood " and " Blank Space , " with darker , more sardonic themes than the sun - bespeckle , aw - shucks clips for older hits like " You go With Me " and " 22 . " At this yr ’s Met Gala , she dressedlike a character out of a William Gibson novel . Her new bleach - blonde tomentum has a James Bond - villain quality . And she ’s been doing preliminary study establishing herself as a villain for old age : just ask John Mayer , Katy Perry , Nicki Minaj , Carrie Underwood , Ed Droste , Bob Lefsetz , and whoever killed her in that one episode ofCSI .
Plus , in the Kardashians , Swift has the perfect foil . The Kardashians are skilled at playfully acknowledging , subverting , and intrude fun at the artifice of celebrity life . They secern youhow to eat a Kit Kat bar . They release coffee - table Scripture filled with selfies calledSelfish . They thrive on the chaos of societal media . While Swift ’s old controversy have often hinged on public embarrassment and human relationship drama , thereby making it easy for her to position herself as a victim , these recent scandals stem from backroom deals , media use , and mammoth egos : the stuff and nonsense of villainy . Embrace it , Taylor !
Big Machine/YouTube
Route No. 2: seek forgiveness
A less dramatic route for Taylor to take , but mayhap one more beneficial to her life history over the long haul , take look for out yet another very public reconciliation with Kanye West , the creative person she ’s sparred with the most since he introduce himself into her narrative atthe 2009 MTV Video Music Awards .
It might seem strange to suggest that the controversial knocker , who has made a career out of unfiltered honesty , unflattering griping , touch-and-go self - exposure , and meta - analytic thinking of his own renown , could play as a mentor in Swift ’s life . But as evidenced by the self - lacerating lyrics of " Jesus Walks " and the celebrity hall - of - mirrors video for " Famous " ( the song that launched this round of his on-going saga with Swift ) , West embraces the most troubling , damage , and complex parts of his personality , and addresses his defect channelise on in his workplace – instincts Swift does n’t have as an artist . Her songs are fill up with veiled references and code only Taylor scholars can figure out , and she systematically aims for catholicity by attempting to stay above the disturbance . West lives in the fray . Swift could apply some of that candor in her euphony .
What would Swift ’s music career look like after issuing a mea culpa ? It ’s hard to say . What sheshouldn’tdo is quickly compose a call about this Modern controversy . The last thing the existence needs is another song like " Innocent , " theSpeak Nowtrack that tried to make sense of the VMA ’s incident via billet like " It ’s okay , animation is a tough crowd/32 , and still growing up now " and " Today is never too later to be stain - new . " Could a collaboration between Swift and West be the thing that finally helps squeeze this squawk ? Maybe sleepy-eyed Rick Rubin can make it happen .
Def Jam/YouTube
Of course , it ’s unmanageable to suppose Swift and West ever collaborating on an really well song . I do n’t want that . I bet Kanye West does n’t want that . We know Taylor Swift’shostile fanbasedoesn’t require that . As the odds of an genuine lawsuit about the " Famous " controversylook unlikely , it feels like this matter wo n’t be settled in motor lodge . alternatively , we ’ll have to wait for the next Taylor Swift album and see if it assume the marks of genuine ego - reflection – or the have intercourse leer of a villain .
One matter is for sure , though : the old , pre-“Famous " Taylor Swift is beat , and she is never hail back . Let ’s raise a toast to her .
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