For A Fortnight

Illustration by Jordan Wolfanger

Disclaimer: I am not a “Swiftie,” but I am also not a Taylor Swift hater. I classify myself as a casual Taylor Swift enjoyer. Therefore, I believe that I will be able to provide fair and unbiased opinions.

Taylor Swift’s newest studio album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” was released midnight on April 19th. While I was interested in the album’s lyrical and musical direction, I was most intrigued by the teaser for the music video to “Fortnight,” a single on the album featuring rapper Post Malone. 

From the promotional pictures and videos, it seems Swift was inspired by the Victorian Era (which is appropriate for a song whose title is a word dating back to the 14th century). In her second look in the music video, she wears a Victorian mourning gown, representing grief over a lost love. Her make-up, however, feels more reminiscent of the 1920s style. Swift adorns thin arched eyebrows– unlike anything we have seen visually from her. Her hairstyle is also synonymous with 1920s finger wave curls, representing a rebellion against beauty standards for women. It may also be a nod to her song on the album “Clara Bow,” named after a 1920s starlet. 

The music video begins with Swift lying in a bed in what appears to be a distorted and sterile asylum, where she is coaxed to take a pill to “forget him.” She then wipes her face to reveal Post Malone’s tattoos on her skin, reminiscent of her “Reputation” album cover.” The overall plot of the music video is that Malone’s character saves Swift from being experimented on by two maniacal doctors, played by Ethan Hawke and Josh Charles.The cameos from Hawke and Charles, who both starred in the film “Dead Poets Society,” alongside the late Robin Williams, were cheeky easter eggs, as many fans kept getting the titles “Tortured Poets Department” and “Dead Poets Society” confused (I was one of those people).

I was astonished not only by the amount of great visuals and easter eggs but also by the visual effects and storytelling. The music video utilized a great deal of VFX that added theatrics. I kept replaying the scene of all the burning papers; it was a treat to the eye. I have always appreciated how Swift composes a complete three-act story in her music videos, with each decision articulate and intentional. Decoding all the mysteries lurking in each frame was pretty fun, allowing for a new viewing experience. Overall, “The Tortured Poet’s Society” is another substantial addition to her discography. My personal favorites are the songs “Peter” and “Cassandra.” 

The only question remaining: does this mean I am a Swifte now?