The Eras of a Legend

1. Introduction

This project explores the evolution of Taylor Swift from a local country singer in Nashville to a global pop icon. By curating and modelling 10 heterogeneous items—ranging from archival manuscripts to museum objects and digital media—this project demonstrates how Linked Open Data (LOD) technologies can connect cultural heritage across libraries, archives, and museums (LODLAM).

The core narrative is divided into four phases: The Roots, The Craft, The Reclamation, and The Legacy.

2. Project Design Strategy

The following methodology was applied to structure the unstructured cultural data:

1. Situation

I realized this is not merely a web development task, but a comprehensive LODLAM (Linked Open Data for Libraries, Archives, and Museums) data engineering project. The core requirements boil down to selecting a subject, gathering ten items related to it, and establishing a digital project around that subject through a full lifecycle approach. This involves standardizing and modeling textual materials, followed by coding them into machine-readable linked data and a human-readable web interface.

❮ Prev Next ❯

STEP 1 OF 5

3. Selected Items Gallery

A curated collection of 10 heterogeneous items representing the LODLAM domains (Library, Archive, Museum).

Wildest Dreams (Lyrics)

The handwritten manuscript of Taylor Swift's song “Wildest Dreams” reveals her meticulous craftsmanship as a musical prodigy, showcasing her dedication to refining lyrics and delivering the finest music to her audience. Every note is infused with genuine emotion, embodying her original compositions. This unwavering commitment to authenticity is the very foundation of her status as a global superstar.

The Bluebird Cafe

This was the first bar where Taylor performed regularly. It was here that her passion for music earned her recognition. And it was precisely at this venue that her destiny began to change. She was discovered by the owner of Big Machine Records at the time and signed to the label.

Swarovski Guitar

The Swarovski crystal guitar was one of the standout elements of her concert, demonstrating the synergy between the jewelry accessories industry and the musical instrument performance sector. This collaboration significantly boosted Swarovski's brand visibility while also underscoring Taylor's immense influence. The guitar has since been acquired for the collection of a German museum.

Fearless (TV)

The Fearless Taylor version represents Taylor's rebellion against the unfair contract terms imposed by her former company. Regarding copyright protection issues, Taylor decided to fight back and released a re-recorded version. This embodies Taylor's self-assertion.

Scott Borchetta

Scott Borchetta and Taylor Swift have a long and complex history, beginning when Borchetta signed Swift to his label, Big Machine Records, in 2005, launching her career.

Folklore Cardigan

A cream cable-knit cardigan with black star embroidery, released as the signature merchandise for the Folklore era (2020). This object symbolizes Swift's pivot from stadium pop to indie-folk introspection during the pandemic. It represents a shift in her visual branding—from the polished pop star to a cozy, authentic storyteller—marking a mature redefinition of her artistry.

Miss Americana

A documentary film directed by Lana Wilson (2020) that chronicles a transformational period in Swift's life. It captures her political awakening and her struggle to deconstruct her 'good girl' persona. This work documents the human side of the superstar, revealing the emotional labor behind her global fame and her decision to finally use her voice for social advocacy.

The Eras Tour

The sixth concert tour by Taylor Swift (2023–2024), described as a journey through all of her musical 'eras'. It became the highest-grossing tour in history, a cultural phenomenon that transcended music. This event serves as a retrospective of her entire career, visually and sonically uniting the country girl from Nashville with the global pop icon she has become.

Grammy Award

The Grammy Award for Album of the Year presented to Swift for Midnights in 2024. With this win, she became the first artist in history to win this prestigious category four times. This object (concept) cements her legacy not just as a star, but as one of the most critically acclaimed and enduring songwriters in the history of recorded music.

Time Person of Year

The cover of Time magazine (December 2023) featuring Taylor Swift as the 'Person of the Year'. She was the first entertainer to be honored for her artistic achievement alone. This item marks the culmination of her journey, recognizing her influence as a global force who has reshaped the music industry and touched the lives of millions worldwide.

4. Knowledge Organization Models

4.1 Theoretical Model (The Narrative)

This model visualizes the narrative structure of the project, organizing items into chronological and thematic phases.

Figure 1: Theoretical Model showing the 4 phases of career evolution.

4.2 Conceptual Model (The Ontology)

This technical blueprint maps the relationships between entities using standard ontologies (CIDOC-CRM, FRBRoo, FOAF). It translates the narrative into machine-readable logic.

Figure 2: The RDF Graph structure connecting all 10 items.

5. Knowledge Representation

5.1 Digital Edition (TEI)

The handwritten lyrics were digitally transcribed using TEI XML. Semantic entities (Place, Object) were marked up and linked to Wikidata. An XSLT transformation was used to generate a user-friendly reading view.

5.2 Knowledge Graph (RDF)

The metadata from the CSV file was transformed into RDF Triples (Turtle format) using Python, creating the backbone of the project's Knowledge Graph.

Download Macro Data: taylor_swift_graph.ttl

Download Micro Data: tei_extract.ttl

6. Project Team

Our team collaborated to bring this LODLAM project to life, with a focus on data modeling, technical implementation, and content curation.

Yuming Lian

Project Lead & Data Architect

Designed the overall conceptual framework and technical infrastructure. Responsible for relationship modeling (CIDOC-CRM), Python-based RDF generation, and overall web integration.

Yutong Li

Content Curator & UX Designer

In charge of cultural material interpretation and metadata dimensions design. Implemented the TEI encoding workflow and the interpretive framework connecting artistry with thematic resilience.