Overview
You may have seen articles, in publications ranging from the Wall Street Journal to Teen Vogue, about seminars on Taylor Swift that were recently offered at some American universities. These university-level classes on Swift's work and its form, context, and implications raise all kinds of questions about what should be taught, read, and studied. Is Swift's work literature, and is it worth studying in the same way that one would study Shakespeare or Dickens? In this module, we will grapple with ideas of canonicity and literary value and think about what it means to read something as literature.
We will also analyze her songs with the help of key texts in critical theory and discuss the political, national, and historical contexts of her work. Queen Mary's London setting will encourage us to pay particular attention to the way in which the UK, and London in particular, figures in Swift's lyrics.
Swift's songs reflect on literary history; for example, "the lakes" makes references to Romantic poets and "Love Story" revises Shakespeare. In this module, we will build an understanding of Swift as an artist who is deeply interested in the relationship between her lyrics and the literature of the past.
This Taylor Swift and Literature module from Queen Mary University of London aims to:
- give students the opportunity to explore the relationships between contemporary popular culture, literature, and literary theory.
- explore with students Swift's body of work and what it means to take her work seriously as literature.
- provide students with a supportive framework in which to develop their ability to think critically about popular culture.
- introduce students to basic tools of literary study such as close reading and theoretical approaches, and encourage them to apply these tools to particular texts.
Get more details
Visit programme websiteProgramme Structure
You will gain:
- a knowledge of the basics of literary study and critical theory
- a critical and practical understanding of imagery, structure, and form in relation to poetry and song lyrics
- an understanding of the contexts of Taylor Swift's work in relation to literary history and contemporary popular culture
You will be able to:
- develop an effective and original critical voice
- appraise the formal and structural elements of the text
- apply theoretical concepts to the text
- develop a sophisticated critical understanding of narrative and poetic technique
- acquire the ability to respond constructively and critically to popular culture
- develop as a critic by analyzing understudied texts
Check out the full curriculum
Visit programme websiteKey information
Duration
- Full-time
- 22 days
Start dates & application deadlines
- Starting
- Apply before
-
Language
Interested in IELTS preparation material? Get started here
Credits
Delivered
Disciplines
Music Literature View 47 other Short Courses in Music in United KingdomExplore more key information
Visit programme websiteAcademic requirements
English requirements
Interested in IELTS preparation material? Get started here
Student insurance
Make sure to cover your health, travel, and stay while studying abroad. Even global coverages can miss important items, so make sure your student insurance ticks all the following:
- Additional medical costs (i.e. dental)
- Repatriation, if something happens to you or your family
- Liability
- Home contents and baggage
- Accidents
- Legal aid
We partnered with Aon to provide you with the best affordable student insurance, for a carefree experience away from home.
Get your student insurance nowStarting from €0.53/day, free cancellation any time.
Remember, countries and universities may have specific insurance requirements. To learn more about how student insurance work at Queen Mary University of London and/or in United Kingdom, please visit Student Insurance Portal.
Other requirements
General requirements
To join our Summer School, you should have completed a minimum of two semesters’ study at your home institution.
We welcome Summer School students from around the world. We accept a range of qualifications:
- if your home institution uses the four-point Grade Point Average (GPA) scale, we usually require a 3.0 GPA
- if your home institution uses the letter scale, you will need to have a B+
We welcome international qualifications and we consider every application individually on its academic merit.
Make sure you meet all requirements
Visit programme websiteTuition Fee
-
International
2415 GBP/fullTuition FeeBased on the tuition of 2415 GBP for the full programme during 22 days. -
National
2415 GBP/fullTuition FeeBased on the tuition of 2415 GBP for the full programme during 22 days.
If you choose to study for 2 sessions you automatically receive a tuition fee discount
- One Session £2415
- Both Sessions £4588
Living costs for London
The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.