A new course at the University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego) is using the global popularity of Taylor Swift to explore topics in music, fandom, and cultural studies. The seminar, titled “Reading and Writing Taylor Swift,” was taught during the recent spring quarter by Nancy Guy, a professor in the Department of Music and an ethnomusicologist whose research covers Western and Chinese opera as well as politics and music from Taiwan and China. Guy holds the Chiu-Shan and Rufina Chen Chancellor’s Endowed Chair in Taiwan Studies.
The class drew 16 students from various disciplines including math, engineering, and psychology. It focused on Swift’s artistry, her relationship with fans, and her impact on popular culture. The coursework included weekly journal reflections on readings about subjects such as sexual identity within fandoms and Swift’s public disputes with other artists. Students also completed two major essays, including a final project where they selected their own topics related to Swift’s career or influence.
Nancy Guy explained her motivation for creating the course: “I’ve long been interested in fandom — why we love the artists we do and how those connections are formed. My 2015 book on American opera singer Beverly Sills looked at relatability and fan devotion, and while watching a documentary about Taylor on a long flight from Taiwan, the parallels clicked for me. I wanted students to think critically about her artistry and the ways she’s received in the media — especially around politics.”
One aspect discussed in class was Swift’s use of “Easter eggs”—hidden clues embedded in lyrics or album art that encourage fans to search for deeper meanings or connections between songs. This tradition has become central to Swiftie fandom culture.
Student Ethan Arnn commented on this dynamic: “The Easter eggs are a big part of what ties the fandom together. She started with secret booklet messages on her debut album and built a whole culture of decoding. It connects fans to her personal life and creates that bond where people feel like they truly know her and know her story.”
Angel Yan added: “It’s fun to discuss the Easter eggs together, though sometimes fans overthink them. Still, it keeps people talking and makes you feel connected to the fan community.”
The class also analyzed how Swift blurs lines between public persona and private self through confessional songwriting—a feature that fosters strong parasocial relationships between artist and audience.
Arnn reflected: “It ties into the parasocial aspect. You basically have her diary entries in song. You know how she’s felt, you know the timeline of her relationships and her life, and it feels like you have a friend in her even though that’s ridiculous — you don’t know her. I can listen to her sing anything and feel it in a way I don’t with other artists. She also knows how to write the perfect pop hook.”
Guy compared this effect to opera singer Beverly Sills: “Not only all of the things that you see in text, but you hear them in her voice too. That’s a very powerful connection. With Beverly Sills, people felt like she was singing to them individually, even in a hall of 3,000. People feel the same way with Taylor.”
As part of their studies, students watched documentaries such as “Miss Americana” which focuses on Swift’s political activism.
Discussing what stood out about teaching this class compared to others she has led at UC San Diego Guy said: “I don’t always leave the classroom feeling energized, but this one was different. Every week I learned from the students — about their feelings, about the fandom. As an ethnomusicologist, I often interview people, and in many ways this felt like doing research. It was eye-opening and fun. And it’s really good for students to meet in a small group and for the professor to really get to know them. That format made the class special.”
Students echoed positive experiences with Arnn saying: “I looked forward to those three hours every week. It was a highlight.” Yan added: “Same for me…It let me step outside of my STEM coursework and engage in music culture.”
Guy plans to offer “Reading & Writing Taylor Swift” again next spring quarter at UC San Diego.
