Are you a Taylor Swift fan and don’t know what to do for the entrance exam? Here’s a tip for you: in 2024, the singer will be the subject of two more university courses. The first of them will have space at Harvard University, one of the most prestigious universities in the world. The second will be taught at the University of Florida (UF).
At Harvard University, the course “Taylor Swift and Her World” will be taught by professor, poet and critic Stephanie Burt.
At the University of Florida, Melina Jimenez will teach the course “Musical Narration with Taylor Swift and Other Iconic Artists.” This, in turn, will delve deeper into Swift’s discography, her “timeless songwriting,” as well as delve into iconic artists like Aretha Franklin, Billie Holiday, and Dolly Parton.
But these are not the first institutions to offer singer classes. Other institutions offer similar services, but with their own idiosyncrasies, such as Ghent University in Belgium, the University of Texas at Austin, Rice University, Berklee College of Music, the University of California, New York University, and Stanford University.
In general, these courses often use analysis of Swift’s works as an introduction to criticism, analysis, and cultural issues, as well as other broader references. Burt’s course at Harvard, according to the Harvard Crimson, will explore how Swift’s work intersects with the literary canon, including readings of William Wordsworth and Willa Cather.
