Thread by @paperthinplan

Taylor Swift and Rebekah Harkness, a thread:

Harkness was a philanthropist, composer, poet, sculptor, and founder of the Harkness Ballet of New York. She promoted arts and invested several times in medical researches, as well as Swift, whose numerous donations have been recognized since the very beginning of her career.

Harkness struggled with public opinion after divorcing in 1946. The death of her second husband made her one of the richest and most talked-about women of the high society. Swift has always been put in the spotlight, her personal life’s been demonized over the past 12 years.

Harkness was an outsider: as Swift narrates in The Last Great American Dynasty, she used to throw sumptuous parties in her Holiday House, entertaining her famous friends. However, the status of a widowed woman in the 50s didn’t stop her from doing what she wanted.

Harkness inspired Swift’s third track from folklore, in which she tells about Rebekah (also called Betty) and her eccentric life style, seen by everybody as “the loudest” and “the shameless” woman ever. Swift is known for her controversial reputation, that haunted her for years.

In 2013 Swift bought Harkness’ Holiday House, as she sings in The Last Great American Dynasty: “Fifty years is a long time, Holiday House sat quietly on that beach free of women with madness, their men in bad habits, and then it was bought by me”.

Swift’s parties at the Holiday House recalls the “tasteful but loud” gatherings of Harkness’ Bitch Pack friends. Harkness’ four marriages labeled her as mischievous or simply bad. Swift is the living proof that this kind of behaviors is still well-established in today’s society.

Once again Swift’s person is mirrored in the memory of Harkness, when she calls herself the “loudest woman” who actually brings back Rebekah’s spirit, finally freed from stereotypes and sexist oppression.

Eventually, she proved that what died actually didn’t stay dead.