Am I The Drama?

Artists like Taylor Swift should be appreciated, but not taken literally

AVERY GALLO

Taylor Lautner, John Mayer, Jake Gyllenhaal, Connor Kennedy, Harry Styles: these are only a handful of Taylor Swift’s relationships which met their demise.

But could Swift actually be the problem? When listening to music to cope with a difficult situation, it is okay to want to listen to relatable music, but it’s important not to blindly follow the artist’s actions or view them as someone who can do no wrong.

Swift is no dating expert, and there are always healthier ways to deal with breakups than what she and other artists describe lyrically.

In “Last Kiss” Swift sings, “So I’ll watch your life in pictures like I used to watch you sleep / And I feel you forget me like I used to feel you breathe.”

This is unhealthy because it is more beneficial to move on from past relationships, especially in the modern day with advanced technology and social media. Everyone is going to move on eventually, some quicker than others, which is only going to end up hurting the other person further if they’re still in contact.

Swift’s song “I Bet You Think About Me” is similarly problematic because it communicates the idea that it’s okay to hold grudges hope your ex never gets over you.

She sings, “When you realized I’m harder to forget than I was to leave,” and, “Does it make you feel sad that the love you’re looking for is the love that you had?”

Everyone makes mistakes in relationships; it’s a crucial part of finding who you are and what you want. Focusing on the past is problematic and doesn’t promote healing from past experiences.

While some find Swift’s music relatable and use it as a crutch in hard times, the negative lyrics can be less cathartic and damaging to young audiences. It is important not to take her lyrics, as well as the music of other artists, so literally or you will fall into a cycle of heartbreak and insecurity.