Content Warning: Mentions of eating disorders and sexual assault.
Taylor Swift opens “Miss Americana” by sitting at her piano as Benjamin, one of her three cats, crosses the piano as she casually talks about the journals she kept as a kid. From the beginning, “Miss Americana” makes us feel as if we are just having a casual conversation with an old friend.
“My life, my career, my dream” reads the cover of the journal from when she was 13. Swift has set a path for herself since she released her self-titled album, and her impact is beyond what anyone ever imagined.
The release of “Miss Americana” back in 2020 showed us a side of Swift that is vulnerable and raw. Throughout the documentary, she emphasizes how her “entire moral code, as a kid and now, is a need to be thought of as good.” Taylor has shared so much with her fans through her lyrics alone, but for the first time, fans got to see her open up about her thoughts, struggles and beliefs that led her to gain a greater respect from the industry as a whole.
From doubting her own abilities as a singer/songwriter when Reputation did not receive any Grammy nominations; opening about how the Kanye West situation shattered her 19-year-old self, who lived for the approval of strangers; the struggles she faced when her mom went through cancer and her sexual assault case, Swift shares a side of her that many of her fans can relate to: life is a constant rollercoaster of events.
“Miss Americana” contributed so much to the music industry and the understanding of artists as a whole. Just like everyone else, Swift has battled through her own journey and finds it important to share it with her fans, who she is extremely close with. We see Taylor’s innocence as her home videos are played. She grew up in the eyes of others, which explains why she felt a “constant need to prove herself” and to eventually disappear for a year after receiving so much backlash on social media.
“‘#TaylorSwiftIsOverParty’ was trending on twitter…I just wanted to disappear,” Swift said. Many fans have grown up with Taylor since the release of Tim McGraw, but never had we seen her reveal the extent other’s opinions affected her as a person. As she opens up about dealing with an eating disorder for the first time, Swift says “I thought I was supposed to feel like I was going to pass out after a show.” Female artists are subjected to so many standards of beauty, which she described as impossible to meet and something that caused her to fall into disordered habits. I think a huge point “Miss Americana” makes is that our favorite artists are just like us, and it is important to be careful with the expectations we place on them as fans.
Through “Miss Americana,” we begin to see Swift find joy as she describes “happiness without anyone else’s input.” Specifically, we begin to see her speak up about what she believes in when she breaks her political silence during the Tennessee midterm elections.
Swift was always told “a nice girl doesn’t force her opinions on people.” “Don’t be like the Dixie Chicks.” It was “her right to vote, but it is not her right to tell other people what to do.” Her team did not want her to speak up on her politics, yet Swift explains she “couldn’t not step into this” after everything she had been through. As someone who was “obsessed with not getting in trouble,” Swift found it hard to speak up, but her impact was important. After her initial post, thousands registered to vote. “Miss Americana” has truly shown us the impact that artists have on their fanbase and the importance of standing up for what you believe in.
The documentary ends where she talks about her success beyond music and how she has affected the new generation. “I’ve got to hang on,” she said.
With the release of “Red (Taylor’s Version),” it is important to understand the impact of “Miss Americana” on the music industry, and that our favorite artists are human too.
We all face insecurities and doubt, we all are battling our own journeys and we all want to find success in the end. Swift has shown us the importance of placing your own beliefs above all else and that seeking approval from within is what matters most.