The Tortured Poet’s Department Prologue

Written By: Justice Sirotek

“At this hearing

I stand before my fellow

members

of The Tortured Poets

Department

With a summary of my findings

A debrief, a detailed rewinding

For the purpose of warning

For the sake of reminding”

How do you write about a world that just happens to change around you unexpectedly? How do you handle overwhelming publicity during one of your greatest hardships, especially as you navigate your biggest mistakes? In this episode, Olivia and Dani tackle Taylor Swift’s TTPD album prologue: the poem, In Summation. As a deeply confessional work, The Tortured Poets Department invites our hosts to analyze the backdrop Taylor has provided to better contextualize the album as a whole. They work through the poem in distinct sections, making analyses and observations about each one. Ultimately, they dive into Taylor Swift’s unique ability to write prolifically about her personal life without actually giving concrete markers for people and events; a true embodiment of “show rather than tell.” We can see the remains of a relationship culminating in disdain, although once riddled with affection. We can see the page-bound evidence of a love that ultimately hurt her despite all efforts to persevere. As listeners, we are left to ponder our role as the “jury” of Taylor Swift’s life, the chamber she will always have to answer to. Ultimately, this episode follows the story of the bolter who, above all else, tried to stay.