How Taylor Swift Played The Victim For A Decade And Made Her

[mbcdefg]

That Romeo and Juliet song pisses me off. (A) She's forbidden from dating the guy and he goes behind her back and sorts it out with her dad and announces they're getting married and she's all "yay ok!"; and (B) Romeo and Juliet DIED you dumbass

[eddy]

_{That was very satisfying.} 

[Champagne Supernova]

Fuck her. Never liked her at all.

[josieposy]

I'm kinda giggling at that part about her girlfriends who are all about supporting other women now that Hiddleston has said the "contractually obligated" TS tank top thing.

[waffletime]

I went to a concert of her's a few years ago (tickets were a gift), and the whole time she had this look of fake awe plastered all over her face. Like "omg, I can't believe I'm here! Even though I've been famous for ten years at this point!" and it just came off so disingenuous to me and I've disliked her ever since.

[Deleted]

Leaving aside the Kanye feud which is a mess in which I think each side is guilty...it's sort of a stretch to say a female songwriter is exploiting her victimhood by writing about her breakups. That's ripe material.  See Kelly Clarkson, Adele, etc.  I remember reading that Ani DiFranco's fans were pissed when she got married because she wasn't the angry female anymore.  I think Dear John is a great song!  Fuck that dude. (I mean, in theory, I have no idea what he did to her but I just love the "shining like firelights over your sad empty town") lyrics. If I ever broke up with someone that would be my song.

[muffin0]

I want to know what was edited/updated.

"This article has been updated following feedback from Taylor Swift's publicist."

[Dig Ophelia]

First, that article was long.

Second, I now know way too much about someone -- a few people, actually -- I don't give a shit about.

Third, it made some good overall points about the traditional white feminine [victim] narrative that is the basis for many a fairy tale and tv show and Disney Movie and YA & romance novel, etc.  Hell, just about the entire wedding industry is based on this fragile ingénue type [deserving to find] her prince charming and getting to have "her" big day.  Making white little girls feel like fragile princesses is like a guaranteed money-maker for any business.  Looks like this white chick tapped into it and duped a lot of other white chicks.  

[Dig Ophelia]

Feb 9, 2017 21:45:09 GMT -5 @notquiteblushing said:

Leaving aside the Kanye feud which is a mess in which I think each side is guilty...it's sort of a stretch to say a female songwriter is exploiting her victimhood by writing about her breakups. That's ripe material.  See Kelly Clarkson, Adele, etc.  I remember reading that Ani DiFranco's fans were pissed when she got married because she wasn't the angry female anymore.  I think Dear John is a great song!  Fuck that dude. (I mean, in theory, I have no idea what he did to her but I just love the "shining like firelights over your sad empty town") lyrics. If I ever broke up with someone that would be my song.

I don't think that's what the article is saying.  It's not just about "writing about breakups".  It's about placing yourself [as a white woman] into the victim role in every encounter with another person (esp when it comes to POC and other minorities). 

Did every single person Swift come into contact with abuse or misuse her in some way?  She had no responsibility in how these relationships ended and how they were portrayed to the media?  Really?   

This chick seems to have built her career on the backs of other people.  
  

[lovelovelove]

Yes yes yes! She's awful. I keep typing and deleting bc I could fill a page with how awful I think she and those that promote her image are.

[Deleted]

Feb 9, 2017 21:55:19 GMT -5 connie0000 said:

Feb 9, 2017 21:45:09 GMT -5 @notquiteblushing said:

Leaving aside the Kanye feud which is a mess in which I think each side is guilty...it's sort of a stretch to say a female songwriter is exploiting her victimhood by writing about her breakups. That's ripe material.  See Kelly Clarkson, Adele, etc.  I remember reading that Ani DiFranco's fans were pissed when she got married because she wasn't the angry female anymore.  I think Dear John is a great song!  Fuck that dude. (I mean, in theory, I have no idea what he did to her but I just love the "shining like firelights over your sad empty town") lyrics. If I ever broke up with someone that would be my song.

Jesus is testing me with this. And you.

The article makes an interesting argument but I feel like most teen girl pop music is about similar themes.  I do think Taylor has benefited from looking like a victim at times, sure, but I wouldn't say she make her whole career on that premise.  It hasn't been the case for a while now especially after she cheated on Calvin Harris, was revealed to be lying about Kanye, etc.  She come across as manipulative.

[Deleted]

Feb 9, 2017 21:57:50 GMT -5 Dig Ophelia said:

Feb 9, 2017 21:45:09 GMT -5 @notquiteblushing said:

Leaving aside the Kanye feud which is a mess in which I think each side is guilty...it's sort of a stretch to say a female songwriter is exploiting her victimhood by writing about her breakups. That's ripe material.  See Kelly Clarkson, Adele, etc.  I remember reading that Ani DiFranco's fans were pissed when she got married because she wasn't the angry female anymore.  I think Dear John is a great song!  Fuck that dude. (I mean, in theory, I have no idea what he did to her but I just love the "shining like firelights over your sad empty town") lyrics. If I ever broke up with someone that would be my song.

I don't think that's what the article is saying.  It's not just about "writing about breakups".  It's about placing yourself [as a white woman] into the victim role in every encounter with another person (esp when it comes to POC and other minorities). 

Did every single person Swift come into contact with abuse or misuse her in some way?  She had no responsibility in how these relationships ended and how they were portrayed to the media?  Really?   

This chick seems to have built her career on the backs of other people.  
  

She writes other songs but they're not as popular.  One of her songs is a public apology to Taylor Lautner from Twilight.

And no, she's definitely not a saint and I don't think most people think that anymore. The Kanye lie was straight up bullshit and she should be embarrassed. 

[josieposy]

It really is pretty spot on, and I say this as a white girl who is guilty of liking a TS song or two. She controls her image as an art form, but Kim got her good. Kim got her really good.

[Deleted]

Feb 9, 2017 22:07:03 GMT -5 @tooshort said:

Feb 9, 2017 22:00:11 GMT -5 @notquiteblushing said:

The article makes an interesting argument but I feel like most teen girl pop music is about similar themes.  I do think Taylor has benefited from looking like a victim at times, sure, but I wouldn't say she make her whole career on that premise.  It hasn't been the case for a while now especially after she cheated on Calvin Harris, was revealed to be lying about Kanye, etc.  She come across as manipulative.

She is one of the few women in Hollywood that has dated as many men as she has and yet comes out unblemished. Every breakup is the guys fault. She's always the innocent one. She didn't create this narrative but she sure played the hell out of it.

That is true!  I always wonder if she sleeps with all of them.  I don't care but damn that's like three dozen celebrities now. And no one has kissed and told as far as I've seen.

Anyway I think my enthusiasm for a few of her songs has prevented me from understanding this article so I"m sorry from distracting from the conversation. 

[lovelovelove]

Ok I thought maybe I didn't need to write about her awfulness but I think I do.

She exploits young girls. She's manipulative. She is perpetuating sterotypes and essentially marketing "MAGA". And she's doing it for money and fame; she knows what she's doing and how many people she reaches. This is the culture that needs to be tossed out for there to be any progress for fighting racism and misogyny.

[atexan]

Feb 9, 2017 21:19:48 GMT -5 eddy said:

_{That was very satisfying.} 

Agreed. It's all the reasons my brain already sensed by hating her.

Plus, all her fucking songs are earworms.

[underwaterrhymes]

She thrives in the role of victim.

If she's not currently a victim, she finds a way to make herself one. It's the only way she feels comfortable in her skin, which is really quite sad.

[mryrcn]

DH asked me just the other day if I thought she was crazy because of all of the dating. I told him that I didn't care about her at all.

Now Keith Urban's music has sucked ever since Nicole saved him.

[Dig Ophelia]

Feb 9, 2017 22:05:23 GMT -5 @notquiteblushing said:

Feb 9, 2017 21:57:50 GMT -5 Dig Ophelia said:

I don't think that's what the article is saying.  It's not just about "writing about breakups".  It's about placing yourself [as a white woman] into the victim role in every encounter with another person (esp when it comes to POC and other minorities). 

Did every single person Swift come into contact with abuse or misuse her in some way?  She had no responsibility in how these relationships ended and how they were portrayed to the media?  Really?   

This chick seems to have built her career on the backs of other people.  
  

She writes other songs but they're not as popular.  One of her songs is a public apology to Taylor Lautner from Twilight.

And no, she's definitely not a saint and I don't think most people think that anymore. The Kanye lie was straight up bullshit and she should be embarrassed. 

But from her own words and actions, she does seem to enjoy exploiting her relationships in order to gain attention (sympathy, praise, envy) and money from record sales.  And in order to accomplish that, she's created this persona, if you will, of the "well-meaning fragile white girl" who just happens to get taken advantage of all the time while still being plucky and savvy enough to capitalize on said victimhood by writing all about it and naming names and doing all kinds of PR, etc.   

I'm not saying she's the only one who does it like that -- the white blonde ingenue victim has been a long time trope.  But she seems to be damn good at it.

These are just my impressions from the article.  I don't really know any of these characters (Swift, West, Kardashian, any of those boyfriends of hers) so I'm not taking any sides*.


*Well, I guess I'm kind of taking sides, now.  lol

[cville]

I never paid her much mind, but when you see it all laid out like this it's pretty plain she's the worst.

[Deleted]

I'm gonna link back to this post the next time she releases an album and half of GBCN fawns all over her...

[MrsAxilla]

Feb 9, 2017 21:49:40 GMT -5 Dig Ophelia said:

First, that article was long.

Second, I now know way too much about someone -- a few people, actually -- I don't give a shit about.

Third, it made some good overall points about the traditional white feminine [victim] narrative that is the basis for many a fairy tale and tv show and Disney Movie and YA & romance novel, etc.  Hell, just about the entire wedding industry is based on this fragile ingénue type [deserving to find] her prince charming and getting to have "her" big day.  Making white little girls feel like fragile princesses is like a guaranteed money-maker for any business.  Looks like this white chick tapped into it and duped a lot of other white chicks.  

Your first and second points argue for me not clicking.  But does the article recap the Kayne thing?  I remember reading about the Grammys, but I don't remember learning that she lied or what about.  I'll click for a recap.  Or you can just give me one

[laladypoet]

I kinda loved when kanye did the thing at the VMAs. Cause I hate her.

[Dig Ophelia]

Feb 9, 2017 22:28:06 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

Feb 9, 2017 21:49:40 GMT -5 Dig Ophelia said:

First, that article was long.

Second, I now know way too much about someone -- a few people, actually -- I don't give a shit about.

Third, it made some good overall points about the traditional white feminine [victim] narrative that is the basis for many a fairy tale and tv show and Disney Movie and YA & romance novel, etc.  Hell, just about the entire wedding industry is based on this fragile ingénue type [deserving to find] her prince charming and getting to have "her" big day.  Making white little girls feel like fragile princesses is like a guaranteed money-maker for any business.  Looks like this white chick tapped into it and duped a lot of other white chicks.  

Your first and second points argue for me not clicking.  But does the article recap the Kayne thing?  I remember reading about the Grammys, but I don't remember learning that she lied or what about.  I'll click for a recap.  Or you can just give me one

LOL  It was actually an interesting read.  I don't care about any of the players much, but the overarching point the article was making is worth reading, IMO.  

Yes, they went over the bullshit with Kanye. That was really fucked up of her and just shows how she'll play anyone in order to be seen as a victim.  I have a feeling if that song had been praised, she would have been all over the internet taking credit for it.  

[brandnewday]

As VSB wrote so well, Taylor is Becky. Darth Becky. She has played the part so well and successfully. The reason her ass is popular with so many white women is because they also share her same values and methods. It really isn't surprising we get the response we did from notquiteblushing.

[Dig Ophelia]

Feb 9, 2017 22:24:56 GMT -5 cville said:

I never paid her much mind, but when you see it all laid out like this it's pretty plain she's the worst.

It was this very board that got me to realize that she and that other white blonde chick whatshername Carrie Underwood (?) were actually different people.  CEP Teachable Moment

[MrsPenny]

She is perpetually in the mindset of a 15 year old girl. Nothing is ever her fault, all boys are awful and everyone betrays you. Girl, please. Grow up. She is always put out as a role model for young girls and I grimace at the idea of my kids looking up to someone like her. She tries to destroy people and is worshipped for it. It is gross.

[MrsAxilla]

Feb 9, 2017 22:32:42 GMT -5 Dig Ophelia said:

Feb 9, 2017 22:28:06 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

Your first and second points argue for me not clicking.  But does the article recap the Kayne thing?  I remember reading about the Grammys, but I don't remember learning that she lied or what about.  I'll click for a recap.  Or you can just give me one

LOL  It was actually an interesting read.  I don't care about any of the players much, but the overarching point the article was making is worth reading, IMO.  

Yes, they went over the bullshit with Kanye. That was really fucked up of her and just shows how she'll play anyone in order to be seen as a victim.  I have a feeling if that song had been praised, she would have been all over the internet taking credit for it.  

Oh I see - you're going to make me click - lol.  

ETA: at least it wasn't at the beginning!  Vile.  Off to finish....

[JLV]

She is the absolute worst. I was a fan but then I realized just how tiresome and pathetic she was.

I was just thinking about her and how she thankfully kind of faded from the limelight.

[childofhiphop]

I never liked her. NMS.

I posted at the time of Kim Kardashian posting the video receipts that so-called fragile (lying liars) white women have had black men brutally beaten, lynched and murdered in other heinous ways for decades centuries lying on them and playing fake victims. Manipulative use of privilege.

I have had ZERO TOLERANCE for any part of her since.

ETA:  Edited for historical accuracy.