Ghost/Ghosted/Phantom/Haunt

<aside> 💡 Analysis -

Harry Styles released a song called “Two Ghosts” which is highly speculated to be about him and Taylor’s relationship. If this is a reference to their PR relationship, this could be Harry acknowledging that him and Taylor weren’t “really there” when they were seen together. To see my full intertextual analysis for this, click here
‘…Ready For It?’ is one of Taylor’s quintessential PR relationship songs, so it’s interesting to me that there’s references to ghosts and phantoms from the very beginning. It makes me think that the Reputation era being positioned as the era after the “old Taylor” was killed could suggest that Reputation/celebrity Taylor is just a ghost of the real Taylor, something that only exists in our imaginations (phantom). </aside>

<aside> 👂 Social Media Analysis Relating To This Theme:

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<aside> 🌈 Queer History:

Well known Virginia Woolf quote: “it is far more difficult to murder a phantom than a reality”. For more Woolf intertextual analysis, click here
I found a few mentions of a ghost metaphor for how lesbians in our past influence lesbians of the present in this dissertation: ‘Queer Genealogies in Transnational Barcelona: Maria-Mercè Marçal, Cristina Peri Rossi, and Flavia Company‘ by Natasha Tanna. Press the toggle to see excerpts relating the “The Apparitional Lesbians” (a 1993 essay) and descriptions of Renee Vivien’s poetry as being inspired by the ghosts of lesbian past:
Haunting Feminism: Encounters with Lesbian Ghosts is a 2019 special edition that further explores this theme of lesbian ghosts in our history:
I also found a modern poem called “Sappho’s Ghost” from 2020 by a poet named Renee Hamlin that captures a similar theme of Sappho’s ghost following a lesbian around:
‘Walking With A Ghost’ by Tegan & Sara is considered one of their first “hits” & speaks to the feeling of not being able to stop thinking about an ex </aside>

<aside> 👸 Relevance to Taylor’s Life:

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Debut

Haunted - Can't breathe whenever you're gone Can't turn back now, I'm haunted
Sparks Fly - Give me something that’ll haunt me when you’re not around
Ours - Ghosts from your past gonna jump out at me Lurking in the shadows with their lip gloss smiles But I don't care 'cause right now you're mine

Red Tour - May 28, 2013 - Taylor plays Haunted and gives a speech:

"This is a song that I haven't played on this tour so far. It came up when one of my friends tweeted the lyrics to it today and it reminded me that I haven't played this song in about two years. It has to do with the fact that, you know people talk about ghosts all the time. You just kind of imagine it being this supernatural thing, but there's another kind of ghost and it's just a person who is out there walking in the world or just doesn't love you anymore and that's a whole different kind of being haunted."

Found at: https://www.tumblr.com/swiftgronmasterpost/631712402851954688/springsummerfall-2013-the-end

Bad Blood - You say sorry just for show, If you live like that, you live with ghosts

https://time.com/3541210/taylor-swifts-bad-blood-1989/
How You Get The Girl - Stand there like a ghost Shaking from the rain, rain
This Love - Your smile, my ghost
You Are In Love - And for once, you let go Of your fears and your ghosts One step, not much, but it said enough
Wildest Dreams - Someday when you leave me I bet these memories follow you around (like a ghost)
How You Get The Girl Taymoji