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The Taylor Seminars
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Studying the impact of Taylor Swift through 1-hour-ish seminars with Hannah (@sippingaugust) and Exquisite (@exquisitewill). The two discuss "The Tortured Poets Department" through a conduct track-by-track analysis of the album. They are currently on "The Anthology" tracks.
Art Credit: Alef Vernon @alefvernon. Find him on Patreon!
Art Credit: Alef Vernon @alefvernon. Find him on Patreon!
36 Episodes
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We can't believe it either but we've reached the last track of The Tortured Poets Department: Anthology. That means we've reached "The Manuscript," a self-written closing track that truly helps wrap up this double album.
They talk about the song's connection to "All Too Well (10 Minute Version" and its connection to one of the grand themes of TTPD of loss of innocence and yet we see such growth. And we'll be back in the next episode with a wrap-up/reflection of the entire album!
Join in on our conversation on Twitter/X with the hashtag #AnthologySeminars!
Enjoy the podcast? Send us a tip!
Follow us on Twitter:
@taylorseminars
@sippingaugust - Hannah
@exquisitewill - Exquisite
Art by Alef Vernon:
@alefvernon (Instagram)
Alef's Patreon
As we near the end of The Tortured Poets Department: Anthology, Exquisite and Hannah analyze the beautiful and melancholy "Robin," in which Taylor sings to Robin (herself?) and how she wishes to help keep their innocence forever.
They talk about the song's connection to the theme of innocence and innocence lost, which is found throughout Taylor Swift's discography in songs such as "Never Grow Up," "Would've Could've Should've", and "The Best Day."
Join in on our conversation on Twitter/X with the hashtag #AnthologySeminars!
Enjoy the podcast? Send us a tip!
Follow us on Twitter:
@taylorseminars
@sippingaugust - Hannah
@exquisitewill - Exquisite
Art by Alef Vernon:
@alefvernon (Instagram)
Alef's Patreon
This week, Exquisite and Hannah talk about the fairytale-esque "The Bolter" from The Tortured Poets Department: Anthology. This fantastical song follows the story of a girl who runs--but for good reason.
They talk about the song's connection to other Taylor Swift works, such as "Blank Space," "Right Where You Left Me," "It's Time To Go" and others!
Join in on our conversation on Twitter/X with the hashtag #AnthologySeminars!
Enjoy the podcast? Send us a tip!
Follow us on Twitter:
@taylorseminars
@sippingaugust - Hannah
@exquisitewill - Exquisite
Art by Alef Vernon:
@alefvernon (Instagram)
Alef's Patreon
Join Exquisite and Hannah as they discuss the melancholy and haunting "Peter" from The Tortured Poets Department: Anthology. They talk about yes, Peter from Peter Pan and Wendy, but also the implications of cedar, lamplight, and the important phrase "cause love's never lost when perspective is earned." And, of course, lots and lots of references to more Taylor Swift songs.
Join in on our conversation on Twitter/X with the hashtag #AnthologySeminars!
Enjoy the podcast? Send us a tip!
Follow us on Twitter:
@taylorseminars
@sippingaugust - Hannah
@exquisitewill - Exquisite
Art by Alef Vernon:
@alefvernon (Instagram)
Alef's Patreon
Join fellow Cassandras Exquisite and Hannah as they discuss how the protagonist of the song was 100% correct. They explain how her prophecies were used against her and isolated her, giving her trauma that revisits her again and again.
Join Exquisite & Hannah as they discuss "Cassandra" from The Tortured Poets Department: Anthology.
Join in on our conversation on Twitter/X with the hashtag #AnthologySeminars!
Enjoy the podcast? Send us a tip!
Follow us on Twitter:
@taylorseminars
@sippingaugust - Hannah
@exquisitewill - Exquisite
Art by Alef Vernon:
@alefvernon (Instagram)
Alef's Patreon
We have a special guest for this special song! Rob Sheffield is an author and music critic at Rolling Stone magazine. He's written many of your favorite Taylor Swift album reviews (Folklore, Red (Taylor's Version), The Tortured Poets Department, but you might know him best from his ranking of TS songs.
Rob also has a book coming out called Heartbreak is the National Anthem: How Taylor Swift Reinvented Pop Music, which is coming out in November 2024 (and you can pre-order it now!).
We invited him onto "The Taylor Seminars" to talk about his new book as well as go in-depth into "The Prophecy," which is a track on The Tortured Poets Department: Anthology. This is one of Rob's favorite tracks (ours too!) and so we get deep into the song as we analyze the lyrics and performance.
We also talk about:
How Taylor changed pop
How Taylor studies the music greats of her past
The connection between Taylor and hip hop
LOTS MORE
And be sure stay until the end when Rob shares what he considers to be "the most Taylor album."
Join in on our conversation on Twitter/X with the new hashtag #AnthologySeminars!
Enjoy the podcast? Send us a tip!
Connect with Rob Sheffield!
Twitter
Instagram
Follow us on Twitter:
@taylorseminars
@sippingaugust - Hannah
@exquisitewill - Exquisite
Art by Alef Vernon:
@alefvernon (Instagram)
Alef's Patreon
In this haunting song, the protagonist shivers in the cold as she stares into the warm living rooms of strangers. What is she doing out there? How did she get to be stranded outside? What will actually happen when she meets his eyes one last time?
Join Exquisite & Hannah as they discuss "I Look in People's Windows" track 25 from The Tortured Poets Department: Anthology and see if you too are addicted to the "if only"
Join in on our conversation on Twitter/X with the hashtag #AnthologySeminars!
Enjoy the podcast? Send us a tip!
Follow us on Twitter:
@taylorseminars
@sippingaugust - Hannah
@exquisitewill - Exquisite
Art by Alef Vernon:
@alefvernon (Instagram)
Alef's Patreon
There's something special about "thanK you aIMee," and it's not just the unique spelling of the track from The Tortured Poets Department: Anthology. Join Exquisite & Hannah as they analyze this lighthearted and yet serious song that plays with the album's themes of violence, obstacles, and, of course, survival. Join us for lots of laughs in what is probably one of our most fun episodes.
Join in on our conversation on Twitter/X with the hashtag #AnthologySeminars!
Enjoy the podcast? Send us a tip!
Follow us on Twitter:
@taylorseminars
@sippingaugust - Hannah
@exquisitewill - Exquisite
Art by Alef Vernon:
@alefvernon (Instagram)
Alef's Patreon
We're back in darkness for the track "I Hate It Here." Join Exquisite & Hannah as they analyze this often-misunderstood song and reveal how Taylor Swift writes powerfully and candidly about her inner turmoil, loneliness, and unhealthy escapism.
Join in on our conversation on Twitter/X with the hashtag #AnthologySeminars!
Enjoy the podcast? Send us a tip!
Follow us on Twitter:
@taylorseminars
@sippingaugust - Hannah
@exquisitewill - Exquisite
Art by Alef Vernon:
@alefvernon (Instagram)
Alef's Patreon
We're giggling and kicking our feet as we go back to "So High School," track 22 of The Tortured Poets Department within the Anthology. Listen in to our analysis of this beautifully sweet and romantic song by Taylor Swift.
Join in on our conversation on Twitter/X with the hashtag #AnthologySeminars!
Enjoy the podcast? Send us a tip!
Follow us on Twitter:
@taylorseminars
@sippingaugust - Hannah
@exquisitewill - Exquisite
Art by Alef Vernon:
@alefvernon (Instagram)
Alef's Patreon
We hereby conduct this post-mortem of a post-mortem. Join us as Hannah and Exquisite explore this painfully tragic song that examines the death of a relationship while also pointing at those who gather just to gawk. Listen in to our analysis of "How Did It End" by Taylor Swift. from The Tortured Poets Department Anthology
Join in on our conversation on Twitter/X with the new hashtag #AnthologySeminars!
Enjoy the podcast? Send us a tip!
Follow us on Twitter:
@taylorseminars
@sippingaugust - Hannah
@exquisitewill - Exquisite
Art by Alef Vernon:
@alefvernon (Instagram)
Alef's Patreon
Hannah and Exquisite explore this beautifully evocative song that references poems like "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" and "The Albatross," Taylor's own "Blank Space" and "peace," and more.
Join in on our conversation on Twitter/X with the new hashtag #AnthologySeminars!
Enjoy the podcast? Send us a tip!
Follow us on Twitter:
@taylorseminars
@sippingaugust - Hannah
@exquisitewill - Exquisite
Art by Alef Vernon:
@alefvernon (Instagram)
Alef's Patreon
Hannah and Exquisite explore this extremely sexy, extremely chaotic song that's the second of the The Anthology tracks!
Join in on our conversation on Twitter/X with the new hashtag #AnthologySeminars!
Enjoy the podcast? Send us a tip!
Follow us on Twitter:
@taylorseminars
@sippingaugust - Hannah
@exquisitewill - Exquisite
Art by Alef Vernon:
@alefvernon (Instagram)
Alef's Patreon
We're finally on The Anthology tracks! Join Exquisite and Hannah as they discuss "The Black Dog" and how it's a perfect breakup song, with connections to "Sad Beautiful Tragic," "All Too Well," and an evermore song that made Exquisite almost cry. Oh, and stick around to the very end of the episode for a final connection to a Speak Now song!
Join in on our conversation on Twitter/X with the new hashtag #AnthologySeminars!
Enjoy the podcast? Send us a tip!
Follow us on Twitter:
@taylorseminars
@sippingaugust - Hannah
@exquisitewill - Exquisite
Art by Alef Vernon:
@alefvernon (Instagram)
Alef's Patreon
We have a special guest for this episode! Elly McCausland is a professor of English Literature at Ghent University, Belgium where she teaches the course "English Literature (Taylor’s Version)."
Elly has a book coming out called "Stars Around My Scars," which annotates 46 of Swift's songs. When we heard about this project, we knew we had to have her on to discuss one of the most beautiful and heartbreaking songs on The Tortured Poets Department, "Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus."
Listen in as they discuss Elly's upcoming book and go through the song, line by line, analyzing the lyrics and poetic devices Taylor uses throughout this masterpiece.
Join in on our conversation on Twitter/X with the new hashtag #AnthologySeminars!
Enjoy the podcast? Send us a tip!
Connect with Elly McCausland!
Visit Elly's website
Instagram
Follow us on Twitter:
@taylorseminars
@sippingaugust - Hannah
@exquisitewill - Exquisite
Art by Alef Vernon:
@alefvernon (Instagram)
Alef's Patreon
Can you believe we made it to the end of TTPD standard? In this episode, Exquisite and Hannah analyze the speakers (yes, speakers) in this song, and revisit the omnipresent theme of fame.
Follow us on Twitter:
@taylorseminars
@sippingaugust - Hannah
@exquisitewill - Exquisite
Art by Alef Vernon: @alefvernon
Alef's Patreon
Taylor Swift writes the perfect love story/sports anthem in "The Alchemy." Listen as Exquisite and Hannah talk through the sports metaphors and how the song shows healing and growth and, of course, love.
Follow us on Twitter:
@taylorseminars
@sippingaugust - Hannah
@exquisitewill - Exquisite
Art by Alef Vernon: @alefvernon
Alef's Patreon
Let's get scathing and angry as we talk Track 14 of The Tortured Poets Department. We talk about not only the devastating lyrics, but also the performance of the song in the Eras tour. Also--do you think there's a double muse?!?
Also, our comment section is now open! Feel free to leave feedback for this or any other episode!
Follow us on Twitter:
@taylorseminars
@sippingaugust - Hannah
@exquisitewill - Exquisite
Art by Alef Vernon: @alefvernon
Alef's Patreon
We're so depressed we act like there's a TTPD seminar every day! Tune in as we talk Track 13 (!!!) "I Can Do It With a Broken Heart." Hannah & Exquisite talk about how Taylor used her tour to push through and find herself again. And listen for all the references they found in the song.
Also, our comment section is now open! Feel free to leave feedback for this or any other episode!
Follow us on Twitter:
@taylorseminars
@sippingaugust - Hannah
@exquisitewill - Exquisite
Art by Alef Vernon: @alefvernon
Alef's Patreon
You thought we were done talking about loml? Turns out there's more support for the double muse theory for the song. See Exquisite and Hannah fasten "loml" to "Glitch" with an embroidered stitch in this short bonus episode. We hope you enjoy.
Also, our comment section is now open! Feel free to leave feedback for this or any other episode!
Follow us on Twitter:
@taylorseminars
@sippingaugust - Hannah
@exquisitewill - Exquisite
Art by Alef Vernon: @alefvernon
Alef's Patreon
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