Blank Space - T Swift

Church- Hozier

*How Bilboard Top 40 Mirrors our Society

The songs are put out into the world; brainwashing us; catchy music that is thrown at us

Audience: Corporate labels; Advertisements; whoever has the most $$$

Ethical: Gender Issues, social, political, religious, interpersonal, and gender implications

Does the music we listen to represent our values?

Does it desensitize us to the issues that are at the 'heart' of the matter

These Hoes Aint Loyal: Human Dignity

Taylor Swift: Rights and Resposibilities ("I put every one of my actions through a filter before I do them because that's the way my life is" - quote about Taylor Swift; Her songs are so narcisitic and unattainable, i.e., the setting of the song 'Blank Space') Taylor Swift plays herself as a virtuous girl!

Church: Gender Issues; Global Solidarity (loving our Neighbor)

-Media Literacy classes at school: Analyzing songs and media and movies; how do we build a shield

-How vulnerable our students really are!

-They may not get it now; but that doesnt mean we can't question it and building critical thinking skills

-Asking the why and how; Active listening

-Analyzing popular music; the TRUE meaning

-Teaching mindfulness to our students: mindful choices, discussions-->This is NOT a new thing!

-Find useful exercises for them to take to class!

-Active Listening: MUS ED

Psalm 51:5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.  How can this be who we are? If we look to the adage we are what we eat, some cultures say we are who we associate with... what does it say about our music choices?

When Hozier says that "she tells me worship in the bedroom" There is that reference to the marital embrace and the foretaste of heaven.  Only he is using it in the ugly sense of the word. He is implying that is the only place worshipping needs to be accomplished. I don't believe one can mistaken the line for praying in the bedroom but rather lustful worship in lieu of the type of worshipping we as catholics think of when someone says to worship.

Taylor says " cause we're young and we're reckless, we'll take this too far and leave you breathless or with a nasty scar"

However in scripture youth is meant to be an example.

If we look to 1 Timothy 4:12 It says, "Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity."

If we look to the rights and responsibilities of youth and specifically youth at the forefront of the media, we hold them to higher expectations, Swift herself has said in interviews that she is mindful of the things she says and the manner in which she behaves but her lyrics are a contradiction to that fact. Whether it is satire or not, are our youth able to differentiate between Swift's reality and what is expected of them as catholics?

Specifically if we are looking for our youth to remain celibate.... her chorus specifically suggests that she's " got a long list of ex-lovers"

Psalm 25:7    Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, Lord, are good.  Another way in which we can relate Swifts song is that perhaps she knows that God will see past the sins of her youth. She is holding God up to his word. That he is good and that he will remember through his love for her.

when looking at the lyrics and biblical passages, we could easily find supporting evidence in the bible, provided that you lok for the correct passage. It really is about perspective and literal meanings of lyrics.

Galations 5:23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

If we believe that human dignity is grounded in the idea that we are made in the image of God then how can this song be reflective of our society. I cannot bring myself to repeat the lyrics aloud.  

There is also a huge contradiction, when we look to swift or any artist for that matter and their contribution to music, why is it there responsibility to reflect any kind of virtue or teaching. I read something on a blog where Taylor's religious views were being questioned and some said someone ( referring to a musical artist) should stand up for God for once. They reply by another blogger was " Isn't God able to stand up for himself?