A new course at the University of California, San Diego is exploring the cultural impact and artistry of Taylor Swift. The class, titled “Reading and Writing Taylor Swift,” was offered for the first time during the recent spring quarter by Nancy Guy, a professor in the Department of Music. The seminar brought together 16 students from a range of academic backgrounds, including math, engineering, and psychology.
Guy, who specializes in ethnomusicology with research interests spanning Western and Chinese opera as well as music politics in Taiwan and China, said she was inspired to create the course after drawing parallels between fan devotion to Swift and to American opera singer Beverly Sills. “I’ve long been interested in fandom — why we love the artists we do and how those connections are formed. My 2015 book on American opera singer Beverly Sills looked at relatability and fan devotion, and while watching a documentary about Taylor on a long flight from Taiwan, the parallels clicked for me. I wanted students to think critically about her artistry and the ways she’s received in the media — especially around politics,” Guy explained.
The curriculum included weekly journal reflections on assigned readings that covered topics such as sexual identity within Swift’s fandom and her ongoing public disputes with other celebrities. Students also completed two major essays; one was a final project on a topic of their choosing. The class also analyzed Swift’s 2020 documentary “Miss Americana,” which examines her political activism and public persona.
Ethan Arnn, a third-year math major who took the course, said: “Our group focused on themes across her discography. I wrote about how fame has affected her love life and how that theme grows as she grows as an artist and public figure.” Angel Yan, a second-year chemical engineering major, added: “I looked at the triangular relationships she creates in her music — like the story of a love triangle told from three different perspectives in the songs ‘August,’ ‘Betty’ and ‘Cardigan’ on the album ‘Folklore’ (2020) — and how that kind of writing shows up earlier in her career too.”
Reflecting on how studying Swift academically influenced their perspective, Arnn noted: “I already thought critically about her, but the class made me reflect even more. As fans, it’s not productive to just say everything she does and every song she writes is perfect. Criticism has helped her grow — like writing all of the songs on ‘Speak Now’ (2010) when people doubted her songwriting abilities, or shifting to more elevated lyrics in ‘Folklore’ when some thought her music was getting too childish. The class reminded me that she’s human, not someone to idolize blindly.” Yan shared: “I listen differently now — not just to pop sounds, but focusing more on lyrics and deeper meaning, for Taylor and for other artists too.”
The phenomenon of “Easter eggs”—hidden messages or clues left by Swift—was also central to classroom discussion. Guy observed: “We read about Easter-egg culture and parasocial connection, and students presented songs to the class — tying lyrics to clues, to who songs might be about, to other eras. It’s fascinating how that web builds.” Arnn commented: “The Easter eggs are a big part of what ties the fandom together. She started with secret booklet messages on her debut album and built a whole culture of decoding. It connects fans to her personal life and creates that bond where people feel like they truly know her and know her story.” Yan remarked: “It’s fun to discuss the Easter eggs together, though sometimes fans overthink them. Still, it keeps people talking and makes you feel connected to the fan community.”
Students also examined Swift’s ability to blur boundaries between private self-expression and public persona through music. Arnn stated: “It ties into the parasocial aspect. You basically have her diary entries in song… I can listen to her sing anything and feel it in a way I don’t with other artists.” Guy added: “Not only all of the things that you see in text, but you hear them in her voice too. That’s a very powerful connection…”
When discussing what sets Swift apart culturally—especially around releases like “The Life of a Showgirl,” which followed record-breaking commercial success with the highest-grossing concert tour ever—Yan highlighted album curation: “She’s so consistent in the way she curates an album… She writes more than she releases…” Arnn pointed out authenticity as key: “She’s always vulnerable… She takes risks…”
Both students discussed anticipation around each new musical “era” introduced by Swift—a strategy characterized by unique visuals for each period—and its role in building excitement among fans.
Guy found teaching this seminar uniquely rewarding: “I don’t always leave the classroom feeling energized but this one was different… In many ways this felt like doing research… That format made the class special.” Both Arnn and Yan described looking forward to sessions each week; Yan said it was his first college seminar experience outside STEM courses.
Guy plans to offer “Reading & Writing Taylor Swift” again next spring.
