Temporal Spaces and Shifting Times: Unveiling Architectural Narratives in Taylor Swift’s Artistic Expression

Roslan, S. B. (Speaker)

Department of Architecture

Activity: Talk or presentation › Presentation at conference/workshop/seminar

Description

The strong presence of architectural notions in Swifts’ artistic expression calls for an exploration of the intricate relationship between architectural narratives and temporal transformations within her work. Focusing on a visual analysis of her music video, Lover, and a lyrical analysis of her song, The Last Great American Dynasty, and several of her other notable works, the research examines how architectural spaces change in response to the shifting tides of time, offering a canvas for the portrayal of emotions and their profound influence on temporal-spatial projection. The visual journey of the Lover music video is a narration of emotions projecting to architec-tural spaces, which play a pivotal role in the representation of change in forms of seasons, moods and perspectives. It serves as an allegorical explo-ration that mirrors the ebb and flow of the human experience and space. The lyrics of The Last Great American Dynasty has Swift narrating the story of Rebekah Harkness and her disruptive presence in her Rhode Island mansion within its architectural confines. Both works span through temporal spaces and shifting times, expressing an intimate connection between architectural narratives and the stories of those inhabiting these spaces. Following the work of Psarra, it denotes architectural models drawing from specific histor-ical, cultural and ideological contexts that reinforce the philosophical con-tent of the fiction. The content and context of Swift’s work are analysed against Psarra’s lenses. The paper’s conclusion posits that architecture and fiction construct a representation of reality characterised by a rigorous in-tellectual framework situated within the boundless realm of combinatorial possibilities. If architecture and its temporal spaces and shifting times are an intrinsic component of Swift’s creative works, it cannot function in iso-lation, confined by its own operational paradigms.

Period	11 Feb 2024 → 13 Feb 2024
Event title	Swiftposium 2024
Event type	Conference
Location	Melbourne, AustraliaShow on map
Degree of Recognition	International

Keywords

Architectural Narratives
Temporal Transformations
Spatial Configuration
Cultural Landscape
Pop Culture
Story Telling

Documents & Links

Taylor Swift has emerged as a cultural icon of extraordinary influence. Swiftposium is a hybrid academic conference for scholars to engage in critical dialogue about Swift’s popularity and its profound implications for a range of issues including gender, fandom, popular culture, literature, the economy, the music industry, and more. Swiftposium has been collaboratively organised by scholars from six universities across Australia and New Zealand. The conference will highlight how a single artist has influenced various aspects of contemporary life, with papers exploring Swift’s influence across the intersection of music, economics, business, media studies, health, and societal and cultural impact. First garnering international attention when announced in September 2023, the Swiftposium has attracted more than 400 submissions – 130 of these accepted – from 78 academic institutions worldwide, spanning 60 academic disciplines.