Echoes of Emotion: a Stylistic Analysis of Taylor Swift's Reputation Album and Its Reception Among “swifties”
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Taylor Swift’s Reputation album was released during a period of intense media scrutiny and public controversy, significantly shaping its lyrical themes and reception. The album presents a transformation in Swift’s artistic persona, showcasing themes of defiance, empowerment, and self-reclamation amidst external criticism. Given the intersection of music, discourse, and fan engagement, analyzing the stylistic and thematic elements of Reputation provides insight into how linguistic and narrative strategies reinforce artistic identity and audience connection. This study investigates the stylistic devices and thematic elements present in the album, as well as their reception among "Swifties." Using Norman Fairclough’s Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) framework and I. R. Galperin’s taxonomy of stylistic devices, all 15 songs from the album were examined. Additionally, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were conducted to explore how fans interpret and relate to Swift’s lyrics. The analysis identified metaphor as the most prevalent stylistic device (51.11%), followed by simile, apostrophe, antithesis, and others such as personification and hyperbole. Thematic analysis revealed recurring motifs of public scrutiny, reputation, loyalty, betrayal, emotional resonance, and privacy. Results highlight how Swift strategically employs stylistic devices to construct a compelling narrative, resonating deeply with listeners' personal experiences. Through FGDs, fans articulated the album’s emotional impact and its role in shaping their perceptions of identity and resilience. The findings position Reputation as a bridge between personal storytelling and broader cultural discourse, contributing to a deeper understanding of the interplay between music, language, and audience engagement.
Authors: Brandon Nacua Obenza, Rolando B. Teringtering Jr.
Language: English
Topic: Music History and Culture
Subfield: Music
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4408971759