Learn from the Legend: UC Berkeley Launches a Taylor Swift Course
UC Berkeley has announced that it will offer a new course inspired by Taylor Swift's career and achievements in 2024. The course will examine Swift's "prolific success as a songwriter, businesswoman, and creative influence" through various disciplines.
UC Berkeley is offering a new Taylor Swift college course exploring 'Artistry & Entrepreneurship' of the mega-star
Taylor Swift, the 33-year-old pop star who recently became a billionaire, is not only a global sensation but also a subject of academic interest. UC Berkeley, one of the most prestigious universities in the US, has announced that it will offer a new course inspired by Swift's career and achievements in 2024.
The course, titled "Artistry and Entrepreneurship: Taylor's Version", will be taught by Sofia Lendahl and Crystal Haryanto, who are both fans and scholars of Swift. The course will examine Swift's "prolific success as a songwriter, businesswoman, and creative influence" through various disciplines such as literature, economics, business and sociology.
According to the course syllabus, the students will "explore how art and authenticity create enduring value and a viable enterprise" by analyzing Swift's lyricism, branding, craft, performance, media portrayal and social impact. The course will also discuss Swift's ongoing "Taylor's Version" project, in which she is re-recording her old albums to reclaim ownership of her masters.
The course will last for 13 weeks and include interactive lectures, readings and listening assignments. The students will also have the opportunity to write their own essays or creative projects inspired by Swift.
UC Berkeley is not the first university to offer a Taylor Swift course. In fact, Swift has been a popular topic of study in many colleges across the US and beyond. Some of the previous courses that have focused on Swift are:
- "Taylor Swift: A Case Study in Media Entrepreneurship" at New York University
- "Taylor Swift: A Cultural Icon" at the University of Texas
- "Taylor Swift: Gender, Race and Identity" at Arizona State University
- "Taylor Swift: The Business Behind the Brand" at Stanford University
Swift herself has expressed her appreciation and support for these courses, even surprising some of the students and professors with personal messages and gifts. She has also shown her interest in education by donating millions of dollars to various schools and scholarships.
Swift is widely regarded as one of the most influential and successful artists of all time, having sold over 200 million records worldwide and won 11 Grammy Awards. She is also known for her activism and philanthropy, especially on issues such as women's rights, LGBTQ+ rights, voting rights and education.
Swift is currently on her Eras Tour, which features songs from her nine studio albums. The tour has been a huge success, breaking several records and earning rave reviews from critics and fans alike. Swift is also preparing to release her next re-recorded album, Red (Taylor's Version), on November 19.
Conclusion
Taylor Swift is more than just a pop star. She is a cultural phenomenon, a business mogul and a creative genius. Her career and achievements are worthy of academic exploration and admiration. UC Berkeley's new course, "Artistry and Entrepreneurship: Taylor's Version", is a unique opportunity for students to learn from Swift's example and apply it to their own fields of interest. The course will start in 2024 and is open to all majors and levels.