Taylor Swifts Cultural Impact: The academic embrace of Taylor Swift’s influence continues to grow, with prestigious institutions Harvard University and the University of Florida offering dedicated courses on the pop sensation in the upcoming spring semester of 2024. These courses join a trend that began with New York University’s groundbreaking Swift course, led by Rolling Stone writer Brittany Spanos.
At Harvard, the course titled “Taylor Swift and Her World” will be led by Stephanie Burt from the English department. The syllabus promises an exploration of fan culture, celebrity culture, adolescence, adulthood, and appropriation. Students will also analyze white texts, Southern texts, transatlantic texts, and queer subtexts. The course description intriguingly mentions delving into themes such as “illicit affairs and hoaxes, champagne problems and incomplete closure,” referencing tracks from Swift’s “Folklore” and “Evermore” albums.
Meanwhile, the University of Florida’s offering, “Musical Storytelling With Taylor Swift and other Iconic Female Artists,” curated by Melina Jimenez, spans 13 weeks of dissecting Swift’s discography with a focus on her timeless songwriting. Students will draw parallels between Swift’s lyrics and works by other prominent female artists, exploring themes like old flames, infidelity, aging, and double standards.
This academic acknowledgment of Taylor Swift’s cultural impact follows her success-laden year, marked by the conclusion of her Eras Tour in São Paulo, Brazil, and her receipt of six Recording Academy nominations and ten Billboard Music Awards. Swift’s prolific output in 2023 includes two album releases, “Speak Now (Taylors Version)” and “1989 (Taylors Version),” alongside her reported achievement of billionaire status attributed to the global success of her Eras tour and corresponding concert film. The inclusion of Swiftian studies in the curricula of esteemed universities underscores her enduring influence on contemporary society.
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Our Reader’s Queries
What did Taylor Swift do to help the world?
Superstar Swift didn’t just rock the stage with her epic concerts this year, she also grabbed attention for her kind-hearted support of food banks in the cities she toured. Her generous donations came at a crucial time when federal pandemic food stamp funding dried up and the need for food assistance reached new heights.
What influences does Taylor Swift have?
Delving into Taylor Swift’s most significant musical inspirations brings us to the esteemed Joni Mitchell. Swift has consistently lauded Mitchell for her remarkable songwriting talentsa sentiment shared by many. Surprisingly, Fall Out Boy has also been a major lyrical influence for Swift, despite not being an apparent match. Additionally, Swift credits Shania Twain and Paul McCartney as pivotal figures in shaping her musical journey.
What is the Swifties effect?
Publications have coined the term “the Taylor Swift effect” to describe the consumerist trend of engaging with anything related to Taylor Swift. Business scientists Brendan Canavan and Claire McCamley see the bond between Swift and her fans as an example of post-postmodern consumerism.
What is Taylor Swift’s heritage?
Born on December 13, 1989, in Reading, Pennsylvania, Taylor Alison Swift is the daughter of Andrea (Finlay), a former marketing executive, and Scott Kingsley Swift, a financial adviser. Her family background consists of German and English roots, along with some Scottish, Irish, Welsh, and 1/16th Italian heritage.