SDSU students study the works of pop-icon Taylor Swift in new class

“Swift Allusions: The Literary World of Taylor Swift” is a new class offered at San Diego State University in Fall 2024.

The class, created by PSFA lecturer Heather Sweeney, goes in-depth on the music, lyrics, videos, personas, and aesthetics of the singer-songwriter, and will call upon students to analyze the multi-layered references present throughout Swift’s artistic works. 

Sweeney was inspired to create this class after listening to Swift’s most recent album “The Tortured Poets Department,” and said she experienced a deep connection to the lyrics because of the experiences Swift writes about and the memories she evokes.

“Her lyricism is very deep, poetic, and meaningful,” said Sweeney. “I think a lot of her songs and lyrics resonate with a lot of people, especially women.”

As someone who loves literature, Sweeney felt that the literary references in Swift’s work were especially impactful and wanted to share that knowledge with others since “people miss those references and miss out on the depth of the meaning behind them.”

“The focus of the class is to make connections between literature and her lyrics,” says Sweeney, “But to also find specific lyrics that align with certain passages in the books.”

Students in the class will study classic works such as “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald, “The Bell Jar” by Sylvia Plath, and various works of Emily Dickinson and Patti Smith.

“I hope students will learn that art, whether it be an album or a book, if it’s well crafted and intentional– that is timeless,” says Sweeney. “The Emily Dickinson book that we’re reading is almost 100 years old, but it still has relevant topics, themes and messages in it that we can still learn from today.”

Sweeney said the class will encourage students to think about how they can see themselves reflected in works of art and will explore themes such as how to handle grief or find grace in being alone, messages that she said can be found in both Swift and Dickinson’s work.

The class is largely discussion-based to create an interactive environment where students can exchange ideas freely.  Students sign up as “Discussion-leaders,” and create questions and activities for the rest of the class.

“The students are very participatory, responsive, collaborative, and supportive of each other,” said Sweeney. “I have a great group of students. It’s been really fun.”

“Swift Allusions” will not be offered in the Spring 2025 semester, but Sweeney hopes to teach the class again next fall because of how enriching the unique curriculum has been for both herself and her students.