Taylor Swift is one step closer to becoming a common core fixture in collegiate education. This week, UC Berkeley became the latest college to announce a course inspired by the 33-year-old pop star, confirming plans to launch “Artistry and Entrepreneurship: Taylor’s Version” in 2024.
Taught by Sofia Lendahl and Crystal Haryanto, the course’s syllabus reportedly invites students to “fall down a rabbit hole of what has led to Taylor Swift’s prolific success as a songwriter, businesswoman, and creative influence.” “Through lyricism, branding, and craft, we’ll explore how art and authenticity create enduring value and a viable enterprise,” it continues, according to KRON4. “We’ll analyze performance and interview clips, discuss media portrayal and perceptions, and develop working definitions of Swift’s role in society—and yours. We’ll put her under scrutiny, but handle it beautifully.”
The new program comes as Swift reaches a new peak in her career; last week, it was projected that the “Anti-Hero” singer had reached billionaire status thanks to her ongoing blockbuster Eras Tour. The musician is also fresh off the release of 1989 (Taylor’s Version), her fourth re-recorded album. Her “Taylor’s Version” project has been so independently successful since beginning in 2021, record labels are actively working to prevent artists from following Swift’s lead.
The upward trend of Taylor-themed college courses can be traced back to early 2022, when New York University launched a class studying the superstar’s entrepreneurship, songwriting influences and relationship to the media at the Clive Davis Institute. Later that year, Swift herself showed up at NYU’s commencement ceremony to accept an honorary doctorate degree and deliver a speech to the graduates.
Since then, Swift syllabi has been rolled out at the University of Texas, Arizona State University and Stanford University.
