How Taylor Swift Won Back the Public

The latest in pop-culture news, recaps, and reviews, plus close reads, profiles, interviews, and more from Vulture.com. [Brand Logo]( master class [How Taylor Swift Won Back the Public]( The reputation era was the last time the pop star let someone else define her. Here’s how she rebuilt her image. Photo: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic [Taylor Swift]( is largely unmatched in modern pop — an artist who combines the soul of a poet, the nous of a chess master, and a hedge-funder’s eye for arbitrage opportunities. And her 11th studio album, [The Tortured Poets Department](, caps off a period of cultural dominance unseen in recent history. For an industry that runs on youth and novelty, [Swift’s hitting a career peak]( in her mid-30s is a rare feat, and it’s even more remarkable for a woman, especially one who, eight years ago, endured a protracted public backlash tied to her long-running feud with Kanye West and Kim Kardashian. That was the last time Swift let someone else define her. Since then, she has rebuilt her image so successfully that it’s hard to imagine anyone else taking her down again. As Swift enjoys playing with the concept of multiple selves — explored in music videos, tour sets, and credit-card commercials — here are the 13 Taylor Swifts that put her back on top again. [read more]( [Anniversary Sale: Celebrate with $20 off unlimited access, plus get a free anniversary tote.]( [Anniversary Sale: Celebrate with $20 off unlimited access, plus get a free anniversary tote.]( The Latest TV Recaps • Under the Bridge: [Bic Girls]( • Abbott Elementary: [Janine’s Choice]( • Survivor: [Mind Your Ps and Qs]( • Top Chef: Wisconsin: [Join the Club]( [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( Stories We Think You’ll Like [Every Conan Without Borders International Special, Ranked Conan is often at his best when he leaves the country.]( By Ian Goldstein [Tavi Gevinson Has More to Say About Taylor Swift The writer and actress answers every question we have about her fan-fic Taylor Swift zine: “To quote the daughter from Proof, ‘I wrote it.’”]( [37 Ripley Shots That Would Blow Caravaggio’s Mind The black-and-white Netflix series relies on visual motifs that reflect its central character’s alienation. It absolutely rips.]( [A Vanderpump Rules Guide to The Valley’s Mess To understand the incestuous waters in which this spinoff swims, we must return to the source.]( [Conan O’Brien Must Go Takes One Giant Step for Travel-Show Idiocy The talk-show host messes with the genre’s tropes while acting like a nitwit in multiple countries.]( By Jen Chaney [Survivor 46 Is Where Strategy Goes to Die. Good! The dumbest game of hide-and-seek you’ve ever seen and a tantrum-filled tribal. What more could you ask for?]( [The Wiz Rolls Back Into Town Big high-energy performances, undercut by the folks behind the curtain.]( By Jackson McHenry [Glen Powell Is Your Fantasy (Hit Man) Playing everything but a capybara in Richard Linklater’s Netflix film.]( By Zoe Guy [Malala! Is! Punk! Guest starring on season two of We Are Lady Parts, out May 30.]( By Jason P. Frank [Watch John Early Stress in This Stress Positions Clip My neck, my back, my terrorist attack.]( By Rebecca Alter [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( Vulture Games [Today’s Crossword]( 19-Down, Five Letters: What your mom might call sketches Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Photos: Getty [Today’s Cinematrix]( Can you name a Hugh Grant movie with “and” (or “&”) in the title? Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Steve Granitz/WireImage, Stephane Cardinale/Corbis via Getty Images, Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage A newsletter about the perpetual Hollywood awards race, for subscribers only. [Sign up]( to get it every week. [Get the Newsletter]( [logo]( [facebook logo]( [instagram logo]( [twitter logo]( [unsubscribe]( | [privacy notice]( | [update preferences]( This email was sent to {EMAIL}. Was this email forwarded to you? [Sign up now]( to get this newsletter in your inbox. [View this email in your browser.]( You received this email because you have a subscription to New York. Reach the right online audience with us For advertising information on email newsletters, please contact AdOps@nymag.com Vox Media, LLC 1701 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036 Copyright © 2024, All rights reserved