There’s a robot Swift. Lots of lightning is involved. At one point, a mannequin Swift appears on a white horse.<\/b>
\nDon\u2019t worry. You\u2019re not alone if you watched Taylor Swift\u2019s new music video and your reaction was \u201cWhat \u2013 what was that?\u201d
On the surface, the video is a bit confusing. The rap-infused song, \u201c\u2026 Ready For It?\u201d (the second track released from Swift\u2019s upcoming sixth studio album, \u201cReputation\u201d), seems like it\u2019s about a relationship. But the video is an elaborate, slickly-produced sci-fi film that stars Swift as two versions of herself: One is an evil smirking robot dressed all in black, and the other is a cyborg\/mannequin trapped in a glass case.
The video is a struggle between robot Swift, who controls everything, and mannequin Swift, who desperately wants to get out of her cage. Lots of lightning is involved. At one point, mannequin Swift appears on a white horse.
Then mannequin Swift goes scorched earth and lets out a mighty roar, which blows up the glass and destroys robot Swift.
Afterward, robot Swift is electrocuted while standing on a platform that reads, \u201cThey\u2019re burning all the witches.\u201d
It all ends as mannequin Swift climbs a set of stairs, her eyes glowing as she basks in newfound freedom, as a single tear runs down her face.
As soon as the video was released Thursday night, the internet was abuzz with theories about the real meaning. In true Swiftian fashion, the pop star didn\u2019t spill any details \u2013 though she did provide helpful clues in the form of \u201cliking\u201d certain Tumblr posts, in which fans posted their interpretations.
So, according to Swift\u2019s Tumblr \u201clikes,\u201d here are a few of the messages behind the truly bonkers video:
This is an in-depth version of a rapidly-circulating theory, which is that the robot dressed in black represents the media\u2019s version of \u201cevil\u201d Swift, the one who is seen as a \u201csnake\u201d after some celebrity feuds. Apparently, this has gone on for too long, so now it\u2019s time for the real Swift to rise from the ashes and flourish on her own terms.
Some fans agree that the white horse could be a callback to Swift\u2019s Grammy-winning song \u201cWhite Horse\u201d from her second album, \u201cFearless.\u201d Except this time, Swift doesn\u2019t need a savior \u2013 she can save herself.
Swift has experienced so much criticism lately that her \u201cLook What You Made Me Do\u201d video (the first single from her upcoming album) features a tombstone that reads \u201cHere lies Taylor Swift\u2019s reputation.\u201d Now, \u201c\u2026 Ready For It?\u201d might be trying to remind people that, beneath her armor as a superstar, she\u2019s still a real person with actual feelings.
Finally, the video\u2019s director, Joseph Kahn, helped shed some light by retweeting several other explanations:
\u201cWhat I took from it is that Taylor freed herself from how others view her life on display.\u201d
\u201cWHO FREED TAYLOR SWIFT? TAYLOR SWIFT.\u201d
\u201cPURE happiness for freeing yourself because you took control of YOUR OWN NARRATIVE!!!\u201d
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