Conclusion

This project has been both incredibly insightful and empowering for my queer self. The power of being able to queer music, especially that of a very heteronormative mainstream artist like Taylor Swift, is important because it allows queer audiences to place themselves in narratives and spaces that have often left them out. As a marginalized community, queer people are resilient in their ability to continue living their truth—even if it’s through simple acts like listening to music in a way that fits them.

 

My main findings from my research include many different things, which I can best consolidate in three points. The first is that a queer audience is what makes these interpretations possible. That is the simplest and most efficient way to put it. The second is that these two Taylor Swift albums have really shown a shift from her past music. She wanted to show her allyship to the LGBTQIA+ community and honestly, these two albums were it. The third is that queer theory really sets up and reinforces how one can move forward with queering text.

 

As we all know, music is something that is incredibly open to interpretation. Even if an artist has their own personal meaning behind a song, that does not necessarily mean that listeners have to strictly understand it that way. The research that I’ve done for this topic has made me realize how vital an audience is for bringing life to songs. In this case, it looks at queer audiences and how their lived experiences inform their interpretations. Music helps queer people continue to find their way and shape their identities through life.