Is Taylor Swift An Auteur?

Taylor Swift is a successful, young, female musician; all of the traits that an auteur is usually not. Swift expands the definition of the auteur theory and should be arguably classified as a music auteur. Although the concept of auteur theory is most predominantly associated with film directors, as was the conceived purpose for the idea, I will adapt this theory from primary critics Truffaut and Bazin to analyze the auteur of singer/songwriter Taylor Swift.

I will focus primarily on Swift’s 1989 album and the subsequent press tour, concert, and seven music videos that accompanied the record. These items function together to serve as texts for analysis of Swift’s authorial qualities, which have lead to a quick ascension to success. Swift’s