Arizona State University is adding a new course focused on Taylor Swift to its fall curriculum. Titled “Psychology of Taylor Swift – Advanced Topics of Social Psychology,” it will analyze the pop star’s work and life through the lens of psychology.
The class will be taught by PhD student Alexandra Wormley in ASU’s Department of Psychology. She aims to spark meaningful conversations and use Swift as a teaching tool for advanced psychological concepts.
“The course is basically using Taylor Swift as a semester-long example of different phenomena — gossip, relationships, revenge,” Wormley explained. However, she stressed it is not a seminar on opinions about Swift, but rather using her as a case study model.
ASU joins a growing list of universities offering Swift-themed courses, including in literature, social sciences and more. Schools like New York University, University of Texas, and Belgium’s Ghent University have offered similar classes deconstructing Swift’s songwriting and cultural impact.
Wormley believes Swift’s widely relatable lyrics and stories provide the perfect way to reinforce key social psychology lessons. Research shows students better retain information when they can connect it to their personal lives.
The course description explains it will cover advanced social psychology topics like romantic relationships, fiction/escapism, revenge, and social development. Swift’s music and life events will serve as examples to deepen understanding of these concepts.
For instance, Wormley cited Swift’s album Reputation and its themes of revenge as a prime case study. Analysis can shed light on psychological motives behind revenge and how it manifests in society.
While tailored for Swifties, Wormley welcomes non-fans too for contrasting perspectives. Rather than fawning over Swift, the course aims to objectively analyze her through an academic psychological lens.
Wormley will avoid assuming any prior Swift knowledge in her lectures. She wants to spark constructive discussions, not debates on whether students like Swift.
The goal is improving comprehension of social psychology, not converting more fans. Swift simply serves as a culturally relevant tool for explaining universal human behavior patterns.
Other universities have taken similar approaches, teaching Swift-themed courses across disciplines from literature to business marketing. Her expansive career provides plenty of material for critical analysis.
For example, University of Texas related Swift’s songwriting to classic poetry. New York University examined her evolution into a music entrepreneur.
Swift’s personal life also offers case studies, like her famous feuds and her comeback from backlash. And her enthusiastic fanbase itself provides insight into parasocial relationships between followers and celebrities.
While Swift captured ASU’s attention for this course, her songs and story could apply to a wide range of subjects. Her cultural relevance across generations gives professors a fresh way to resonate with students.
The pop star’s next album, Midnights, spawned hits dissecting romance and self-discovery. Before that, Folklore and Evermore explored fictional storytelling and escapism.
Swifties may relish the chance to academically study their idol’s work. But the course aims to enlighten all students on human behavior using a modern lens.
It exemplifies why universities are expanding courses beyond old literary canons to include contemporary pop culture. Connecting lessons to the modern world, through icons like Swift, boosts student engagement and comprehension.
So ASU is wisely utilizing the zeitgeist of Swift mania to strengthen its social psychology teachings. Swift’s fearless confessional lyrics offer the perfect vehicle for analyzing gossip, rivalry, relationships and more.
The university is giving Swift her educational due, following the pop star’s honorarium from NYU earlier this year. ASU’s course could inspire more scholars to incorporate her discography into diverse fields.
Or it may further stoke debates over what merits serious academic study. But ASU and Swift fans worldwide likely agree her impact is ripe for intellectual discussion beyond Youtube reviews.
