What can a pop song, an instagram post, or a re-recorded album teach us about power, identity, and culture…and how can we gain the skills needed to succeed in college along the way?
UMW students know all too well how important it is to start their college experience off on the right foot. This first-year seminar uses the music, career, and cultural influence of Taylor Swift as a framework in which students practice the foundational and academic skills needed for success at the University of Mary Washington. Drawing on Swift’s lyrics, music videos, fan culture, and media and academic coverage, students explore how pop culture can be studied seriously and critically. Topics include songwriting as storytelling, social commentary in music, fandom, political expression, economic impact, and public discourse surrounding celebrity.
While the subject matter is framed around Taylor Swift, the primary focus of this class remains the development of skills needed for success in college. Students will learn how to locate and evaluate scholarly sources, edit and revise academic writing, and communicate effectively in both discussion and presentation settings. Students will also learn that to respond to criticism you can’t just shake it off– you’ve got to synthesize ideas across multiple sources to build a strong argument. Assignments are carefully scaffolded and include an annotated bibliography, a short synthesis paper, student-led oral presentations, and a final research-based project. Students will also learn to engage with campus resources such as the Simpson Library and the Speaking and Writing Center to support their transition to college-level research, writing, and public speaking. By the end of the semester, students will have strengthened skills that never go out of style and will help them succeed in a variety of classes and settings.