'Miss Americana': From pop to politics
Courtesy of Desert News
Behind the glitter, the numerous Grammys, the sold-out arenas, the millions of dollars and the number one hit songs, a rather simple woman who is looking to show the world her authentic self is revealed.
Taylor Swift’s highly anticipated Netflix documentary “Miss Americana” gives fans more than just a look at how the multi-faceted popstar writes her music: it shows fans an inside glimpse into Swift’s personal life, something she has kept secret for much of her fame.
Tackling everything from the infamous moment with Kanye West on the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards Stage to her 2017 sexual assault trial and her mother’s cancer diagnosis, the documentary doesn’t shy away from the tough topics in the singer’s life. Full of transparency and honesty, the 85-minute film leaves viewers walking away feeling like they know Swift on a more personal level.
Beautifully directed by Lana Wilson, the film combines home videos from Swift’s early days on stage with concert footage and raw, intimate interviews. It felt less like a movie and more like a rare, non-intrusive glimpse into one of the most powerful people in the entertainment world’s life.
The film captures something else no one had seen before: the behind-the-scenes footage of Swift’s rise to political activism since the 2018 midterm elections. After remaining silent on politics for much of her career, Swift shocked the world when she posted an Instagram photo publicly endorsing Democratic candidate Phil Bredesen for Tennessee state senator. She cited LGBTQ rights and equal rights for women as her main reasons of support and encouraged people, particularly younger people, to register to vote. The film shows a clearly upset Swift discussing this with her family and her team, telling them that she needs to speak up. Fearful for how it would impact her reputation and worried about how the public would react, Swift’s father doesn’t immediately agree with the idea. The scene shows Swift’s inability to stay silent anymore and her desire to use her powerful voice to instill positive change.
Perhaps the most beautiful part of the documentary lies within the small, intimate moments showing Swift in the recording studio, casually dressed in sweatpants as we watch her piece together the hits we know so well with producers Joel Little and Jack Antonoff. It is in these organic scenes that we see Swift’s true talent as a singer-songwriter, and her ability to carefully knit together award-winning lyrics and catchy choruses in what seems like seconds.
As if Swift’s songs about falling in love and heartbreak weren’t relatable enough, “Miss Americana” allows audiences to connect with her on another level. The documentary uncovers a new layer to Swift. It’s more than a cinematic look at Swift’s rise to pop stardom. It tackles the difficult, lonely sides of fame, revealing the singer’s struggle with an eating disorder and her need to constantly analyze paparazzi photographs of herself. It shows how someone with one of the most powerful and popular voices in the world sometimes felt like she didn’t have a voice at all. In the honesty within the film’s scenes, the world meets a new and more beautiful side of Swift, and it makes us love her even more.
