On a Wednesday, in Cheit Hall(way), I watched it begin again…

Taylor Swift—singer, songwriter, performer, billionaire, and 2023’s TIME Person of the Year. This two-unit, upper division course will unearth the techniques that have gone into making one of today’s most relevant figures in pop culture.

Swift’s longevity in a competitive industry and evolution as a contemporary artist gives us insight into how she impacts multiple economies, sustains customer loyalty and customer acquisition, and manages public relations. By viewing Swift’s songs, albums, merchandise, tours, etc. as products with lasting shelf lives, this course partners artistic originality with industry success.

We’ll dissect nuanced meanings of and connections fostered by Swift’s songwriting; learn business & marketing strategies catapulting Swift to stardom; and adopt a critical lens of Swift’s role in society—and yours.

Guest speakers throughout the semester will share their respective expertise on public policy, songwriting, producing, and theater, related to our exploration.

Requirements to pass the class:
1. Attend, engage, and participate in in-person lectures (max of 3 absences allowed). This includes doing weekly readings, listenings, and watchings before class.
2. Complete one “artistry” assignment and one “entrepreneurship” assignment.
3. Complete a final project (in-class presentation).

The devil’s in the details, but you got a friend in our website, where you can find a list of topics, speakers, and publicity: https://sites.google.com/view/taylorswiftdecal

Apply by Friday, January 19th by 11:59pm: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc2__xRuprHP0Thjmbr5E176igQim18pLeq9WFutPVFvFYkXA/viewform Decisions will be released by Wednesday, January 24th. Our first class is on Wednesday, January 31st.