Taylor Swift's symbolism-packed "Fortnight" video with Easter Eggs and Fan Theories

From Victorian mourning dresses to asylum scenes, here's a breakdown of the Easter eggs and what fans think they mean.

Taylor Swift's new music video for "Fortnight," the first single from her album The Tortured Poets Department, is a treasure trove of Easter eggs and hidden symbolism. Fans are poring over every frame, dissecting Swift’s visual clues and theorising about their meanings.

The video opens with a haunting image of Swift imprisoned in solitary confinement and ends with a poignant reunion between Swift and collaborator Post Malone. In between, we see Swift in a Victorian mourning gown, hooked up to a straightjacket, and wreaking havoc in an asylum. The visuals are a stark tapestry designed to represent the album's themes.

Swift herself confirmed the video's symbolism in an Instagram post, explaining that she intended it as a "visual representation" of the album and its stories. Unsurprisingly, fans have unearthed multiple hidden references.

One recurring theme is the Victorian mourning dress, which could symbolise grief or loss. In a key scene, Swift and Malone sit at typewriters. Streams of pink and blue connect the typewriters, which some fans believe represents clandestine love, referencing her song "Illicit Affairs".
 

 

 

 

 

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The asylum scenes, with Swift undergoing shock therapy, are another potent motif and likely represent a metaphor for some form of internal struggle.

The video even features cameos by actors Ethan Hawke and Josh Charles, who starred in the 1989 film Dead Poets Society – a potential nod to the album's title.

Taylor Swift's "Fortnight" is so much more than a music video – it's a puzzle box of clues and symbols that invite fans to explore the depths of her artistry.