"When Stephanie Burt decided to carry a pink and blue Taylor Swift tote bag to class one day in fall 2023, she just thought it would be a fun way to transport her books and laptop, and let her students know she was a Swiftie. The Donald P. and Katherine B. Loker Professor of English had no idea that just one semester later she would be teaching a Taylor Swift lecture course to 200 undergraduates"
"that would attract nationwide media attention and even a feature on the "Today" show. And that two years later, she would be releasing book on the star's work. "No part of this journey was anything I expected," said Burt, who realized there was interest in a Swift course after some students spotted her bag and asked her to supervise their independent research work on the pop singer."
A Harvard English professor's casual display of fandom led to a 200-student lecture course that prompted national media interest and campus excitement. The course examined Taylor Swift's albums, songcraft, and fan community, revealing the singer-songwriter's blend of aspirational themes and everyday relatability. Analysis draws on literary criticism and pop music appreciation to trace Swift's evolving voice, meticulous work ethic, and the cultural significance of her re-recordings. The project connects songs to poems, novels, and other writings to illuminate narrative techniques and emotional precision. The course culminated in a book that synthesizes classroom findings with broader reflections on influence and artistry.
Read at Harvard Gazette
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