by Stevie Ryke (‘27)

Dive into a world where academia meets the rhythms of Taylor Swift as a Harvard professor unveils a captivating new course.  “In the spring semester, Stephanie Burt, an English professor at Harvard University, will teach a new class, ‘Taylor Swift and Her World.’ Nearly 300 students have enrolled,” says the New York Times.  Due to its growing popularity, the University of Texas, New York University, The University of California, Arizona State University, and Stanford have also adopted this course.

The course aims to give students a better understanding of pop culture while appreciating Taylor’s music.  Each week, the course zeroes in on a different Taylor Swift song, intertwining it with another track to analyze how these pieces have shaped the music industry. For example, the professor says, “We are reading two different Willa Cather novels. We’re reading a novel by James Weldon Johnson about a performing artist who’s got a very different relationship to his career in his hands,” says the New York Times. They will study James Weldon Johnson and how his writing style is similar to Taylor Swift’s.

Although the class focuses on Taylor Swift, it maintains a professional environment. For example, academic essays will be a regular occurrence.  Secondly, they will study how modern literature has influenced Taylor’s music. “Speak Now: Gender & Storytelling in Taylor Swift’s Eras [will explore] how women’s literary and cultural influences on genre and narrative have shaped the artistry of Taylor Swift’s ten eras,” reads the course description.

The class aims to teach students multiple things: how Taylor Swift has influenced the music industry, the history of female storytelling, and how her political activism has affected the world. Similarly, many other artists also have classes dedicated to them at other select universities. Lana Del Ray, Miley Cyrus, Drake, The Weekend, Beyonce, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Harry Styles, and Brittany Spears have college courses dedicated to them. Recent comments on Fox News reveal that most adults are against these courses because they believe that they’re a waste of money compared to others.  Despite this, students have expressed interest in these classes. Only time will tell whether or not these classes continue to exist as the controversy continues to grow.  The class should continue as long as it maintains a professional environment. The future of the course should be based on the needs of the students who will take it.