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Taylor Swift's "seven" Marks the End of Innocence

Taylor Swift's childhood has frequently acted as the rare domain that can neither be snatched by tabloids nor staked out by fans, but "seven" from her latest LP folklore presents a narrative of innocence dragged out of a child by abuse.

                                      
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PopMatters is moving to WordPress. We will publish a few essays daily while we develop the new site. We hope the beta will be up sometime late next week.

Taylor Swift's childhood has frequently acted as the rare domain that can neither be snatched by tabloids nor staked out by fans, but "seven" from her latest LP folklore presents a narrative of innocence dragged out of a child by abuse.

Taylor Swift offers empowerment in "The Man" not only by simply revealing how ridiculous men can be, but how easily society allows them to be, and accepts them as such.

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It's almost ridiculous how awesome and extravagant Taylor Swift's Reputation tour is.

Maybe in a couple of decades when we look back at Taylor Swift's Reputation, we'll see it for what it is: a solid if unspectacular set of pop songs.

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In 2015, the "poptimism vs. rockism" debate has inspired a rash of thinkpieces and Twitter arguments. Is this debate actually saying anything, though?

Even if you've never heard Swift's original performances, you're hearing them when you listen to Ryan Adams perform 1989.

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Is Swift’s 1989 having the biggest impact on the pop culture landscape since Michael Jackson’s Thriller?

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A 40-foot Taylor Swift stomps through Manhattan in chelsea boots and a pencil skirt, bodegas and halal carts crumbling under her heels, waving one enormous pinky finger to Jay and Beyoncé as they cower in their Tribeca penthouse.

Few can deny that Swift is a talented songwriter, but there are only so many times she can attack her "haters" before that trope feels as worn as a months-old US Weekly still sitting on the top of your toilet.

Two critical catfights are claiming to have buried art-forms which have shaped our civilisation for decades and centuries apiece. Are they entitled to do that?

Moore gives us a bunch of fun-loving, good-timey tunes with some great guitar licks along with...well...a couple songs that are wince-worthy.

Predictions and behind-the-scenes info on who will win the 2014 Grammys in ten major categories.

Feast on a cornucopia of entertainment options this month.

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See all the night’s performances in order from best to worst.

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