Hello curious chairde (friends)!
I assume many of you have arrived from my most recent TikTok series about the hidden history of Taylor Swift (or more accurately, Taylor Swift’s brand image). In these videos, we discuss why the accusations around dog whistles and supremacy seem to haunt every album release she’s had since 2014. This specific article is expanding upon the Opalite “Lightning Bolt” necklace, and the question, “Is it a dog whistle?” To understand how Taylor Swifts double lightning could read as a dog whistle to one of history’s most infamous groups, we must first understand the mythology of the Third Reich.
TW: This article will be utilizing image references of hate symbols and WW2 German Propaganda from The National Archive and other sources.
First, let’s start with an image of the necklace in question and the initial accusation:
Above is the necklace meant to represent the song Opalite, and the accusation being levied by critics is that the lightning bolts represent the SS (or double sig) symbols used to represent the SS-Waffen of Nazi Germany. Below, are some examples of what the SS symbol traditionally looks like:
As we can see above, the SS bolts are very unique. In their original form, they are very distinct from what we visualize as lightning bolts. This is because the SS is supposed to represent the ancient Nordic rune, “Sig” shown in the top center of this image:
See, when Hitler was building his Reich, he wasn’t just building up an authoritarian government within a pre-existing system, or attempting reclaim the lands that Germany lost post WW2. Hitler’s goal was to create a unique world rooted in the history of the land’s former greatness. This faded glory rested, not just in the empires of old, but also in region’s ancient past. In tandem with pseudoscience and eugenics, Hitler and the Nazi party appropriated Scandanavian mythology and culture to create their own fictional worldview; and over time, Viking symbolism and mythology became essential to the German propaganda machine.
Now, this explains why the ancient “Sig” rune was leveraged to create the SS symbol, but how did it transform into the lightning bolt, and what does that have to do with Taylor Swift?
After WW2 and the atrocities of the Nazi regime were laid bare, the de-nazification of Germany began. Holding any iconography for these beliefs was deeply taboo and often lead to immediate punishment, imprisonment or violence from others if discovered. This lead to the development of what we now call “Dog Whistles”. The symbolism and vocabulary the group uses to communicate is completely silent, save for those who are trained to hear it. Plausible deniability is key for any dog whistle.
So, instead of the flat top double Sig as a symbol for the SS or the Nazi party, Neo Nazis and Supremacists will opt for the Lightning bolt. This also plays well into the appropriation of Norse mythology into supremacist ideology, as lightning is frequently associated with Odin, The biblical God, and Zeus (a figure often appropriated in Neo Nazi mythology). Here is an example of how the double sig is often framed with lightning on social media:
Above, we can see how the bolts are placed close together to echo the past symbolism, even without the iconic flat tops. But it’s also important to note what surrounds the image. One or two lightning bolts isn’t enough to claim a dog whistle, but with the classical profile picture, the name of Archangel Michael (a figurehead for some supremacist groups) and the swords on either side of the bolts, we can safely assume where the account owner’s beliefs lie.
A dog whistle is not just one thing, it is a collection of calling cards and subtle nods meant to speak to those listening for the conversation that happens between the words used.
Before we get back to Taylor Swift, let’s take a look at how the double sig, or double bolts, look in a more modern context:
(SS Cuff links from Vulcan Forge)
(The SS style lightning bolt on an Alabama Aryan Brotherhood tattoo)
Knowing what we know now, let’s take another look at the infamous Opalite Necklace:
Especially considering the close placement and the unique style of the lightning bolt, we can see how people could visually come to the conclusion that this is a Dog Whistle. But remember, much like the double sig, dog whistles do not come in singles but in pairs (or more). This is where we zoom out and look at other things. Are there dog whistles in the vocabulary used in her song lyrics, is there other merch that can be seen as a whistle, does she utilize visuals or symbols in other places like music videos or album covers that can be read as “speaking to” a specific group? A single instance is nothing to go off the rails over, but when the whistles increase in boldness and frequency, it’s important to hold public figures accountable to the people they are speaking to and ask that they make it clear EXACTLY to whom the messages are or are not for.
Plenty of artists have accidentally dog whistled or had their images used for nefarious purposes against their will, but what allows them the grace of the public is the speed and firmness in which they denounce the inappropriate use of their image, or the inappropriate interpretation of their world. Because, when it comes to extreme groups, the approach of “leaving it to interpretation” is often interpreted as approval.
I have a lot more to say on this topic in particular, especially concerning the use of Taylor’s brand image in fringe, online spaces. But for now, we’ll leave it here. If you have any questions, or comments, feel free to discuss them below or in the Taylor Swift subscriber chat. My goal is never to accuse, but to give all of you the tools and literacy needed to help navigate these questions and instances for yourself.
As you go out into the world, may the road rise to meet you, and I’ll see you in the next class.