Sara Mirsarraf (10) | STAFF REPORTER
The University of Guelph is offering a unique course on Taylor swift, a unique pop icon starting this winter semester. The name will be “Taylor swift: Music, Media and Meaning” and will explore her music, lyrics and cultural influence, giving students an in-depth look at one of the world’s most successful pop artists.
The course is put together by Dr. Alyssa Woods, professor of popular music at the school of Fine Art and music, and Dr. Robert Edwards, scholar of religion and popular culture, as it will be available for the very first time via University of Guelph (U of G) in Winter 2025.
“Taylor Swift is not just a singer or a pop star,” Edward said in a special U of G blog post. “Popular music is such a pervasive element of our culture and so really any artist that rises to this level of popularity and success becomes a pervasive element of our culture”
Additionally, this class will explore and study some of her biggest hit albums, from Fearless to Midnights, and will also dive deeper into her transformation from a country star to a pop icon. Students will get the opportunity to explore and discuss how Taylor’s public persona shapes her music and how it impacts modern culture in different ways.
Although other courses at different universities might offer different aspects of Taylor Swift, in this course scholars get to learn about religions, gender, sexuality, and look at how Taylor is an “invisible string” that bridges all these factors together.
