Sharpen those pencils, Swifties, because we’re going to Taylor Swift class. Taylor’s fans have already proven themselves as unofficial detectives, but a new class at New York University’s Clive Davis Institute gives you the chance to brush up on all things Taylor.
As reported by Variety, Rolling Stone journalist Brittany Spanos will serve as instructor for a course on the Taylor’s musical impact, legacy, and more. According to a description of the class, “students will develop an understanding and appreciation for Taylor Swift as a creative music entrepreneur.”
The Swift syllabus includes a look “at the “legacy of pop and country songwriters that have influenced” the pop star, plus a study of “the way her creativity and songwriting have made her a durable presence in a quickly evolving music industry.”
Taylor herself was invited to make a guest lecture appearance, Variety adds, but that request remains pending.
Music writer and musician Jason King will serve as chair of the course and called the decision to offer the class a “no-brainer.” As he told Variety, “[Spanos] is a Taylor fan but she also understands how to contextualize her culturally, and get students to think more deeply about her and her music through the lens of gender, feminism, race, and class, and other categories related to identity, and that deeper thinking is what this program is all about.”
New York University’s Clive Davis Institute has offered classes on other musical artists in the past, Variety shares. While other universities have also made headlines for courses centered on Beyoncé and Miley Cyrus.
In a statement to Variety, Spanos said, “It’s such an honor to be able to share my Swiftie expertise with a sharp group of students. I hope to help them rethink how to engage with one of the world’s biggest and sometimes divisive stars.”
The class, which started on January 26, will run until March 9, Variety notes. NYU reports that there’s quite a waitlist for the course, but never fear, as there’s plenty of past Taylor mysteries to study in the meantime.