E90: The Art of Taylor Swift’s Storytelling: Narratology Explained

2025-05-21

“Once the flight had flown…” Taylor Swift is a master storyteller, but how does she tell those stories? In this week’s Show & Tell episode, we’re talking all about Narratology. We break down the structure behind the storytelling, unpacking flashbacks, fast forwards, stream of consciousness, and first-person limited narration through three brilliant Swift tracks. From fairy tale distortion in “Is It Over Now?”, a murder mystery arc in “No Body, No Crime,” to the heart-tugging Bildungsroman of “You’re On Your Own, Kid,” this episode explores the how behind the heartbreaks,...

“Once the flight had flown…” Taylor Swift is a master storyteller, but how does she tell those stories? In this week’s Show & Tell episode, we’re talking all about Narratology. We break down the structure behind the storytelling, unpacking flashbacks, fast forwards, stream of consciousness, and first-person limited narration through three brilliant Swift tracks. From fairy tale distortion in “Is It Over Now?”, a murder mystery arc in “No Body, No Crime,” to the heart-tugging Bildungsroman of “You’re On Your Own, Kid,” this episode explores the how behind the heartbreaks, twists, and self-discoveries. Whether you're into literary theory, folklore, or just love a well-crafted bridge, you’ll leave this episode with a deeper appreciation for Taylor’s evolving narrative toolkit—and maybe a few English class flashbacks of your own.

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Mentioned in this episode:

White Lotus

E51: All Too Well (10 Minute Version)

Mrs. Dalloway, Virginia Woolf

Dracula, Bram Stoker

The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien

Beauty and the Beast

Sleeping Beauty

Alice and Wonderland

Snow White

Doctor Who

E78: Tim McGraw Deep Dive

Harry Potter

Great Expectations, Charles Dickens

Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë

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Episode Highlights:

[01:13] Intro to narratology

[05:25] “Is It Over Now?” 1989 (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault)

[19:34] “No body, no crime” evermore

[32:20] “You’re on You’re Own, Kid” Midnights

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This podcast is neither related to nor endorsed by Taylor Swift, her companies, or record labels. All opinions are our own. Intro music produced by Scott Zadig aka Scotty Z.

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