DOI
10.1093/9780197812495.003.0029
Abstract
Moralistic responses to Swift’s honest songwriting are misguided. Swift’s songwriting is morally similar to poetry and literary autofiction. As long as the artist’s work is honest and not defamatory, the artist’s interest in self-understanding and entitlement to self-expression is a sufficient defense for the art. The argument has three parts. The first part establishes that honest songwriting about someone is an act of love, even when it’s unflattering to the person who is mentioned in the song. Like many acts of love, honest songwriting might cause suffering. That doesn’t mean it isn’t an act of love. The second part establishes that people who voluntarily associate with Swift rarely have a compelling moral complaint against her honest songwriting, even when it is hurtful. Finally, the third part establishes that authenticity is an aesthetic virtue in songwriting, and that the quality of Swift’s songs is sufficient to justify her confessional lyrics.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-18-2026
Publisher Statement
Copyright © 2026 Oxford University Press
Recommended Citation
Flanigan, Jessica, 'Love, Liability, and Lyrics', in Lindsay Brainard, Ryan W Davis, and Jessica Flanigan (eds), The Philosophy of Taylor Swift (New York, NY, 2026; online edn, Oxford Academic, 18 Aug. 2026), https://doi.org/10.1093/9780197812495.003.0029.
