A new course at the University of California, San Diego has used Taylor Swift’s career and music as a lens to explore themes of fandom, artistry, and cultural impact. The seminar, “Reading and Writing Taylor Swift,” was taught by Nancy Guy, a professor in the Department of Music and the first holder of the Chiu-Shan and Rufina Chen Chancellor’s Endowed Chair in Taiwan Studies. The class brought together 16 students from different fields such as mathematics, engineering, and psychology during the spring quarter.
Guy explained her motivation for developing the course: “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.”
The coursework included weekly journal reflections on topics like sexual identity within Swift’s fan community and public controversies involving other artists. Students also completed essays on self-chosen subjects related to Swift’s work. The class concluded with an analysis of “Miss Americana,” a documentary that examines Swift’s political engagement and image.
Ethan Arnn, a third-year math major who took part in the seminar, 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.” Another student, Angel Yan, who is studying chemical engineering, explored storytelling devices within Swift’s music: “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.”
Students reported that analyzing Swift’s work academically changed their listening habits. Arnn noted: “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 added: “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 course also discussed “Easter egg” culture among fans—hidden messages or clues left by Swift—which encourages communal participation through speculation about details such as album aesthetics or lyrical references. Guy remarked: “We read about Easter-egg culture and parasocial connection… It’s fascinating how that web builds.” According to Arnn: “The Easter eggs are a big part of what ties the fandom together… It connects fans to her personal life and creates that bond where people feel like they truly know her.”
Swift’s influence extends beyond music into branding partnerships; companies have engaged with symbols from her recent releases across social media platforms.
Both students emphasized Swift’s authenticity as central to her appeal. Yan observed: “She writes more than she releases and she chooses what tells a story. That makes her albums feel whole.” Arnn commented: “She takes risks and reinvents herself — and that’s paid off.”
Reflecting on teaching the course for its first run, Guy stated: “I don’t always leave the classroom feeling energized, but this one was different… As an ethnomusicologist, I often interview people… it felt like doing research.”
Guy plans to offer “Reading and Writing Taylor Swift” again next spring.
