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".
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.
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