Please support our work!
cars/trucks
bicycles
sell your ride
health/wellness
home/garden
post your service
all merchandise
sell your stuff
all categories
post your class
apartments
homes for sale
for sale by owner post your listing
browse notices
post a notice
If you’re looking for “I Spys,” dating or LTRs, this is your scene.
April 17, 2024 Arts + Culture » Ask the Rev.
Published April 17, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.
Dear Reverend,
My sister is obstinate about saying Taylor Swift sucks when it’s objectively clear that she is talented, not just musically, but also as a media mogul. I think my sister is stuck in patriarchal thinking that keeps her from appreciating a woman who is successful for doing “girly” things. How do I get her to release herself from the chains of patriarchy and admit that Taylor Swift kicks ass?
Not So Swift (woman, 22)
Dear Not So Swift,
Although blaming your sister’s disdain for Taylor Swift on patriarchal thinking is an intriguing idea — and likely the subject of many an academic essay — there may be an easier explanation.
Some people are born contrarians, hardwired to dislike just about anything simply for the fact that it is popular with the masses. I hate to admit it, but I’d have to include myself in this group.
Case in point: When I was about 15, the musician Prince was becoming extremely popular and I would have none of it. I went so far as having a letter published in Newsweek magazine stating my belief that he was just a flash in the pan who stole his style from the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Little Richard. However, after a day at the beach smoking pot and listening to Purple Rain with a group of punk rockers, I changed my tune and became a great fan. So much so that on the day Prince died, I felt a profound sense of mourning.
All this to say: Even us true-blue contrarians can have a change of heart.
It’s also possible that your sister is just razzing you, as siblings often do. Either way, it’s her; she’s the problem. I suggest you just shake it off and don’t worry your pretty little mind; people throw rocks at things that shine.
Good luck and God bless,
The Reverend
Tags: Ask the Rev.
More Ask the Rev. »
Waitsfield’s Shaina Taub Arrives on Broadway, Starring in Her Own Musical, ‘Suffs’
Two Vermonters Awarded Prestigious Guggenheim Fellowships
How a Vergennes Boatbuilder Is Saving an Endangered Tradition — and Got a Credit in the New ‘Shōgun’
Comments are closed.
From 2014-2020, Seven Days allowed readers to comment on all stories posted on our website. While we’ve appreciated the suggestions and insights, right now Seven Days is prioritizing our core mission — producing high-quality, responsible local journalism — over moderating online debates between readers.
To criticize, correct or praise our reporting, please send us a letter to the editor or send us a tip. We’ll check it out and report the results.
Online comments may return when we have better tech tools for managing them. Thanks for reading.
