Parasociality and literalism: “was it a real rental car?”

“Was it a real rental car?”

I have been complaining a lot about the inability of people to interpret TS lyrics in any way other than the most literal meaning, but it recently occurred to me that, along with a general lack of literacy, one glaring explanation for this problem is rooted in parasociality.

“Parasocial” is a buzzword rn but using it in its technical sense of “a belief in a personal relationship with a celebrity or artist” in other words — instead of a unidirectional consumption of an individual’s work, a parasocial person sees themselves as in a conversation or even a (friend) relationship with the artist.

In this context, lyrics are frequently seen as communication within this relationship, rather than artistic expression that is open to interpretation. And when this “communication”, taken literally, is confusing, rather than reach for a metaphorical interpretation, a parasocial person instead feels anger and distress, or other negative emotions.

When confronted with something that obviously cannot be taken literally, such as a metaphor comparing herself to Jesus, the reaction is disproportionate and fixated on details (such as “that’s not how the crucifixion and resurrection are described in the Bible” or “she never really spent time in a mental institution”). Much time is spent trying to “make the timeline fit” for the parasocial person’s preferred communication, and use of symbolism (colors) is reduced to the simplest possible “code”. Questions are asked about what real-life “event” is the inspiration for what lyrics, and the possibility of “none” is never entertained.

Furthermore when TS herself says, repeatedly, that songs do not have a fixed meaning even for herself (ie in recontextualizing mashups or other indicators), this is ignored or explained away to maintain the preferred interpretation. Just having clues about who a song was about (15+ years ago) does not mean that TS ever “intended” every song to be deciphered as a code revealing her Real Life.

Fundamentally, people being truly parasocial do not relate to the art as art, but as communication that is part of their relationship with TS.

Are there other reasons for the literalism of so much analysis of TS lyrics? Of course. But the need for parasocial people to relate to the songs in this very specific way will always prevent any interpretation which divorces the songs from a literal, real-life Truth.

It becomes important whether “it was a real rental car”, who was spotted dancing barefoot in NY, whether or not TS grew up in a “mansion” or on a “farm” etc. It becomes important whether Taylor herself, Matty Healy or Travis actually joked about “heroine with an e”. It becomes important what exactly happened on April 29 (despite that the song talks about husbands/being dragged down the aisle, which cannot be interpreted literally). She’s an alcoholic, bc she said so (while also saying she wanted to kill her non-existent husband). Songs which clearly express different feelings and emotions are emptied of these nuances and reduced to a literal declaration of one thing or another. A re-used phrase or metaphor (lol) can only signify the thing it signified previously.

For a lot of people, her “confessional” songwriting places Taylor as the penitent and the listener as the priest.