Before we go further, let's take a look at the definition of folklore. One meaning is "an often unsupported notion, story, or saying that is widely circulated," according to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary. Hmm.
So what did Taylor Swift have to say about the album title? Although she didn't discuss it in the announcement post, she did confirm what inspired the work. "Before this year I probably would've overthought when to release this music at the 'perfect' time, but the times we're living in keep reminding me that nothing is guaranteed," she said.
In that spirit, Swift has become more political in recent years, including her support of LGBTQIA people in the song "You Need To Calm Down," as well as her decision to back Democratic candidates in Tennessee. She even came out against President Donald Trump tweeting in May 2020, "After stoking the fires of white supremacy and racism your entire presidency, you have the nerve to feign moral superiority before threatening violence? 'When the looting starts the shooting starts'??? We will vote you out in November. @realdonaldtrump."
We're not sure if politics inspired a large part of Folklore, but there are some song titles on the album that suggest this theme, like "The Last Great American Dynasty" and "Hoax." So maybe Swift is ready to challenge the "unsupported" stories circulating in America, and the opinions people too easily digest as truths.
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