Arizona State University Announces New Sensational Taylor Swift Course
On August 10, Arizona State University (ASU) unveiled an exciting and unique approach to teaching social psychology by incorporating the life and music of Taylor Swift: a course centered around the global superstar.
Next fall semester, ASU will introduce a course titled “Psychology of Taylor Swift – Advanced Topics of Social Psychology.” Taught by doctoral student Alexandra Wormley, the course promises to use Taylor Swift’s career as a captivating lens to examine complex social psychological phenomena.
Taylor Swift has become a cultural icon known worldwide for her music, business acumen, and commitment to women’s empowerment. ASU recognizes her influence as an artist and public figure, making her the ideal subject for this psychology course. The story of how this course came to be was interesting. It grew from an informal conversation with one of Wormley’s research assistants. After attending one of Swift’s concerts, they jokingly expressed a Taylor Swift-themed course. This intriguing idea quickly gained momentum, leading to the creation of the course.
🎓 | @ASU is offering a brand new course this fall titled “Psychology of Taylor Swift — Advanced Topics of Social Psychology.”
— Taylor Swift Museum (@theswiftmuseum) August 15, 2023
— The goal of this course is to deepen your understanding of a variety of topics within social psychology through empirical readings, in-class… pic.twitter.com/dqwRPtDfdD
In this course, students will explore topics specific to social psychology, with each week devoted to the study of a theme taken from one of Taylor Swift’s albums. Wormley insists that the course is not about cultivating fandom but using Taylor Swift as a compelling case study for understanding psychological concepts. Some of the themes include gossip, relationships, and revenge.
For example, one of the subjects will focus on the singer’s 2017 album, Reputation, which centers around her conflict with Kim Kardashian and Kanye West. Through the lens of social psychology, Wormley believes analyzing how Swift channels her emotions through her music and media interactions offers a fascinating opportunity to understand why people act on revenge.
However, this course doesn’t require students to be die-hard Taylor Swift fans. In fact, Wormley encourages students of different backgrounds and Swift perspectives. In addition, the course provides resources to those unfamiliar with Taylor Swift but who want to dive into the world of social psychology.
6 years ago today, Taylor Swift returned to social media with a snake teaser to kick off the ‘reputation’ era. pic.twitter.com/9Gvjg9PUiU
— Pop Base (@PopBase) August 21, 2023
One of the guiding principles of this innovative course is the idea that connecting course material to students’ personal lives improves understanding and retention. Wormley believes that harnessing this cognitive quirk can make learning more engaging. By combining social psychology with Taylor Swift’s experiences, the course aims to make learning fun and memorable.
It’s essential to understand that this course is far from a three-hour fan club meeting. While Taylor Swift’s career and music provide a fascinating backdrop, the heart of the course is a severe exploration of complex social psychology concepts. Students will spend the first half of each course delving into psychology topics before applying their new knowledge to Taylor Swift’s career.
ASU’s Taylor Swift psychology course is not the only one of its kind. Other universities, including Stanford and the University of Texas, have also recognized the potential of Taylor Swift’s work as a pedagogical tool. These courses explore various aspects of Swift’s career, from her songwriting to her impact on contemporary pop culture.
Taylor Swift's "All Too Well (10-Minute Version)" is the subject of an upcoming class at Stanford University pic.twitter.com/FyIXSpKKlv
— CNN (@CNN) March 10, 2023
ASU’s “Psychology of Taylor Swift – Advanced Topics of Social Psychology” course exemplifies a creative and engaging approach to higher education. Bridging the gap between popular culture and academia, this course offers students a unique opportunity to explore the complexities of social psychology through the lens of one of the world’s most influential artists. As Taylor Swift continues to evolve as a creative force, her impact on academia is undeniable, offering new and exciting perspectives to students and educators alike.
