Scholars will present Taylor Swift-themed speaker series at KU

LAWRENCE — In fall 2024, the University of Kansas will host a series of speakers on Taylor Swift. Are you ready for it? 

Each speaker will offer insights on their field of expertise using Swift as a lens.

“Taylor Swift offers an opportunity to engage students in intellectual content across disciplines that will hopefully inspire them to explore fields they otherwise would not have considered,” said Misty Heggeness, associate professor of economics and public affairs and a member of the faculty group organizing the series. 

The series will feature Stephanie Burt, a poet, essayist, literary critic and professor of English at Harvard University, where Burt teaches the course Taylor Swift and Her World. Burt wrote "Taylor Swift at Harvard" for The Atlantic, explaining the value of contemplating a pop star. Burt will speak at 3:30 p.m. Sept. 30 at Watson Library 3 West.

The speaker series also offers a preview of the many Swift-focused and Swift-adjacent courses offered at KU. 

The full series includes six speakers:

"Watching from the Stands: Addressing Media Stereotypes Within the Taylor Swift-Sports Ecosystem"

4:30-5:30 p.m. Sept. 18, 100 Stauffer-Flint Hall

Steve Bien-Aimé, assistant professor, William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications

"Hits Different: Why Taylor Swift Writes Such Strong Songs"

3:30-4:30 p.m. Sept. 30, Watson Library 3 West

Stephanie Burt, poet, essayist, critic, professor of English, Harvard University

"Parasocial Affordances and the Taylor Swift Fandom"

4:30-5:30 p.m. Oct. 17, 100 Stauffer-Flint 

Brian Donovan, professor of sociology

"SWIFTYNOMICS: Women in Today’s Economy"

4:30-5:30 p.m. Oct. 30, 100 Stauffer-Flint 

Misty Heggeness, associate professor of economics and public affairs

"What Are You Hearing? Focused Music Analysis for Non-Musicians"

4:30-5:30 p.m. Nov. 13, 100 Stauffer-Flint Hall

Kerry Marsh, director of Jazz Singers and Vocal Jazz Lab, School of Music

"Sexy Baby, Monster on a Hill, or Something Else? Using the Eras Tour to Understand the Effects of Culture on Public Opinion"

4:30-5:30 p.m. Dec. 12, 100 Stauffer-Flint 

Clayton Webb, associate professor of political science

This series is sponsored by the Institute for Policy & Social Research, the Department of English, the Hall Center for the Humanities, the School of Public Affairs & Administration and the Department of Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies.

All are welcome to attend events in this series. For questions and accommodations, contact Caty Movich (cgmovich@ku.edu).