LIT112: The Life of a Showgirl with Mara Eller

Mara Eller
  • 5.0 (14)
  • ARTS

Class is in session! After 16 years of teaching literature and writing, I’m bringing that same analytical energy to this controversial album. Think of this as AP Lit: Taylor Swift edition. We’ll unpack TLOAS like a novel—tracing literary techniques, Shakespearean allusions, character arcs, and emotional architecture. It’s like your favorite college English class, minus the assignments and grades. If you love peeling back layers of meaning and finding hidden connections (while enjoying some seriously fun music), this is for you!

  1. 12/19/2025

    19: Finale — TLOAS is a culmination, not a contradiction (with Kelley Erickson)

    For our last episode, I sit down with functional mental health practitioner Kelley Erickson to explore The Life of a Showgirl through the lens of emotional integration, identity, and resistance. We unpack why this album feels so different, the emotional arc of Taylor’s discography, and why this album is a culmination, not a contradiction. We talk about performance, power, and what it looks like refuse to play by patriarchy’s rules while remaining within the system—and we go DEEP.  I learned so much from this conversation, and it unlocked a whole new level of appreciation for both the album and the brilliant artist behind it. You don’t want to miss it! Find Kelley on Instagram here. And here’s a direct link to her original post about The Life of a Showgirl. _______________________________________ It's not too late to snag the replay for Write Like Taylor Swift: a 90-minute immersive workshop to help you apply Taylor's most powerful techniques to whatever you already write. Get all the LIT112 writing prompts in one place: www.maraeller.com/prompts. _______________________________________ Come join the discussion! Instagram TikTok Threads _______________________________________ Follow my new podcast, The Soul and Science of Great Writing! You can find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you usually listen. Weekly episodes begin dropping in January 2026. You can find my personal writing and writing tips on Substack. And visit my website to learn more about my editing, book coaching, and upcoming courses.

    1h 27m

  2. 12/15/2025

    18: The Crowd Is King — what the prologue poems reveal about the life of a showgirl

    In this episode, we uncover the secrets hidden in the six poems that fans are calling a prologue for the album.  From the meticulous preparatory rituals to the unspoken rules that keep a showgirl sane under the gaze of adoring—and sometimes ruthless—crowds, these poems deepen our understanding of the album but also add a missing element. We explore the “monotonous thrill” of performing night after night, the moments of connection that make it all worth it, and what it truly means to love the life of a showgirl. I encourage you to read the poems in full first before diving into my analysis in this episode. You can view the poems on my website here. And don’t miss the bonus writing prompt at the end! _______________________________________ It's not too late to snag the replay for Write Like Taylor Swift: a 90-minute immersive workshop to help you apply Taylor's most powerful techniques to whatever you already write. Get all the LIT112 writing prompts in one place: www.maraeller.com/prompts. _______________________________________ Come join the discussion! Instagram TikTok Threads _______________________________________ Follow my new podcast, The Soul and Science of Great Writing! You can find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you usually listen. Weekly episodes begin dropping in January 2026. You can find my personal writing and writing tips on Substack. And visit my website to learn more about my editing, book coaching, and upcoming courses.

    51 min

  3. 12/12/2025

    17: Punk Scholar Meets Showgirl (with Micah Vandegrift)

    For our second bonus episode and our first interview, I’m joined by musician and scholar Micah Vandegrift. Micah and I met in graduate school when we both studying American culture at FSU. He specialized in music culture, specifically local post-punk scenes. In short, NOT a swiftie. I invited him to listen to the album for the first time with me and share his thoughts and impressions after each song. We ended up talking about musical cohesion, sonic arcs, and whether authenticity and performance are mutually exclusive. You can find Micah on his website or on his porch in Raleigh, North Carolina. _______________________________________ It's not too late to snag the replay for Write Like Taylor Swift: a 90-minute immersive workshop to help you apply Taylor's most powerful techniques to whatever you already write. Get all the LIT112 writing prompts in one place: www.maraeller.com/prompts. _______________________________________ Come join the discussion! Instagram TikTok Threads _______________________________________ Follow my new podcast, The Soul and Science of Great Writing! You can find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you usually listen. Weekly episodes begin dropping in January 2026. You can find my personal writing and writing tips on Substack. And visit my website to learn more about my editing, book coaching, and upcoming courses.

    1h 7m

  4. 12/08/2025

    16: From Shakespeare to Swift: Can Popular Art Be Great Art?

    In this first bonus episode, we step beyond the showgirl’s story to explore the bigger picture of Taylor's reception as an artist.  I’m sharing an essay I wrote that’s been getting a lot of attention on Substack about why some art—like Taylor Swift’s songwriting—is dismissed as “popular,” while other work—like Shakespeare's plays—is celebrated as “serious” or "literary." It's about artistic hierarchies, who gets to decide which art is considered important, and what those decisions say about who we are as a society.  You can see the piece (including citations) and join the conversation over on Substack.  _______________________________________ It's not too late to snag the replay for Write Like Taylor Swift: a 90-minute immersive workshop to help you apply Taylor's most powerful techniques to whatever you already write. Get all the LIT112 writing prompts in one place: www.maraeller.com/prompts. _______________________________________ Come join the discussion! Instagram TikTok Threads _______________________________________ Follow my new podcast, The Soul and Science of Great Writing! You can find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you usually listen. Weekly episodes begin dropping in January 2026. You can find my personal writing and writing tips on Substack. And visit my website to learn more about my editing, book coaching, and upcoming courses.

    22 min

  5. 12/05/2025

    15: “The Life of a Showgirl” — is this a comedy or a tragedy?

    This final track takes us back to our showgirl’s beginnings when her idol warned her of the harsh reality behind the shimmering facade of sequins and lace. From star-struck encounters at glittering performances to the bruises that are the price of admission, this episode examines how the showgirl claims her calling, embraces her reality, and shares the hard-won wisdom of a life lived in the spotlight.  Plus: a motif treasure hunt, discussion questions, and writing prompts to help you dive deeper! Here are the motifs I found: 1.    Love and commitment 2.    Happiness 3.    Hot and cold 4.    Friendship 5.    Jealousy and cattiness of other women 6.    Public scrutiny 7.    Fate vs agency 8.    Fantasy vs reality 9.    Innocence/kindness/sweetness 10. Games and play 11. Commodification and objectification 12. Personal/emotional cost of success 13. Flowers _______________________________________ It's not too late to snag the replay for Write Like Taylor Swift: a 90-minute immersive workshop to help you apply Taylor's most powerful techniques to whatever you already write. Get all the LIT112 writing prompts in one place: www.maraeller.com/prompts. _______________________________________ Come join the discussion! Instagram TikTok Threads _______________________________________ Follow my new podcast, The Soul and Science of Great Writing! You can find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you usually listen. Weekly episodes begin dropping in January 2026. You can find my personal writing and writing tips on Substack. And visit my website to learn more about my editing, book coaching, and upcoming courses.

    23 min

  6. 12/01/2025

    14: “Honey” — trust, tenderness, and the golden glow of truth

    In “Honey,” the showgirl steps into a life she once feared was only a mirage: a relationship so secure she can finally let her armor drop. After years of battling manipulation, half-truths, and outright deception, the showgirl delights in a partnership built on honesty, transparency, and mutual respect. Performance gives way to play, and the golden glow of relational safety begins to feel like home. Don’t miss the discussion questions and writing prompts at the end! _______________________________________ It's not too late to snag the replay for Write Like Taylor Swift: a 90-minute immersive workshop to help you apply Taylor's most powerful techniques to whatever you already write. Get all the LIT112 writing prompts in one place: www.maraeller.com/prompts. _______________________________________ Come join the discussion! Instagram TikTok Threads _______________________________________ Follow my new podcast, The Soul and Science of Great Writing! You can find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you usually listen. Weekly episodes begin dropping in January 2026. You can find my personal writing and writing tips on Substack. And visit my website to learn more about my editing, book coaching, and upcoming courses.

    28 min

  7. 11/28/2025

    13: "CANCELLED!" — something wicked this way comes

    In "CANCELLED!", the showgirl confronts the forces that try to keep women small head on. She’s done trying to play nice. Instead, she embraces infamy and forges a sisterhood with other women who refuse to conform. This episode unveils the showgirl’s journey from reactive victim to empowered advocate, turning public criticism into a badge of honor. Through allusions to classic myths and Macbeth’s witches, Swift points to the double standards of our patriarchal system, the internalized misogyny that pits women against one another, and the transformative power of refusing to let shame define you. Our showgirl is scarred but strong, ready to live in the freedom that comes from facing your worst nightmare and surviving. _______________________________________ It's not too late to snag the replay for Write Like Taylor Swift: a 90-minute immersive workshop to help you apply Taylor's most powerful techniques to whatever you already write. Get all the LIT112 writing prompts in one place: www.maraeller.com/prompts. _______________________________________ Come join the discussion! Instagram TikTok Threads _______________________________________ Follow my new podcast, The Soul and Science of Great Writing! You can find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you usually listen. Weekly episodes begin dropping in January 2026. You can find my personal writing and writing tips on Substack. And visit my website to learn more about my editing, book coaching, and upcoming courses.

    28 min

  8. 11/24/2025

    12: “Wood”— superstition, satire, and the subversive power of female desire

    Perhaps the most divisive song on the album, “Wood” might sound like little more than raunchy puns about how much Taylor loves her fiancé’s… assets. But beneath the playful surface lies a daring critique of patriarchy, double standards, and the policing of female desire.  In this episode, we unpack this audacious performance’s cheeky innuendo and Shakespearean echoes to reveal how the showgirl flips centuries of expectation on its head, manipulates the audience, reclaims her power. Scandalous wordplay, bold sexuality, and literary mischief await! Plus discussion questions and writing prompts to help you take it even deeper. (No pun intended!) _______________________________________ It's not too late to snag the replay for Write Like Taylor Swift: a 90-minute immersive workshop to help you apply Taylor's most powerful techniques to whatever you already write. Get all the LIT112 writing prompts in one place: www.maraeller.com/prompts. _______________________________________ Come join the discussion! Instagram TikTok Threads _______________________________________ Follow my new podcast, The Soul and Science of Great Writing! You can find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you usually listen. Weekly episodes begin dropping in January 2026. You can find my personal writing and writing tips on Substack. And visit my website to learn more about my editing, book coaching, and upcoming courses.

    29 min
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About

Class is in session! After 16 years of teaching literature and writing, I’m bringing that same analytical energy to this controversial album. Think of this as AP Lit: Taylor Swift edition. We’ll unpack TLOAS like a novel—tracing literary techniques, Shakespearean allusions, character arcs, and emotional architecture. It’s like your favorite college English class, minus the assignments and grades. If you love peeling back layers of meaning and finding hidden connections (while enjoying some seriously fun music), this is for you!

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