Taylor Swift's lyrics are being studied in universities across the United States, from NYU and Stanford to Arizona State University and Ghent University in Belgium. These courses explore the themes of Swift's music, her songwriting techniques, and her impact on popular culture.
One course at Arizona State University, "Psychology of Taylor Swift — Advanced Topics of Social Psychology," examines how Swift's music deals with themes such as revenge, trauma, and anxiety. The course's instructor, PhD student Alexandra Wormey, says that the course can help students understand why people are drawn to these themes and how they can be enacted in real life.
Another course, "Literary Contexts and Contests — The Taylor Swift Songbook" at the University of Texas at Austin, compares Swift's music to literary classics by authors such as Emily Dickinson, Shakespeare, and Sylvia Plath. The course's instructor, Dr. Ashley Cross, says that the course can help students appreciate the artistry of Swift's songwriting and the complex themes she explores in her music.
A course at Stanford University, "All Too Well (10 week version)," focuses on a single song from Swift's catalog. The course's instructor, Dr. Wendy Chun, says that the song is a "masterpiece" that can be analyzed from multiple perspectives, including literary, musical, and cultural.
These are just a few examples of the many courses that are being offered on Taylor Swift. The popularity of these courses suggests that there is a growing interest in studying her music and its impact on popular culture.
The instructor of the course at Ghent University, Elly McCausland, says that the aim of the course is to make literature more accessible and not solely to establish a Swift fan club. She says that Swift's music can be a gateway for students to learn about other artists and works of literature.
The trend of studying Taylor Swift in academia is a testament to her cultural impact. Her music has resonated with millions of people around the world, and it is now being studied by scholars and students alike.
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