Imagine a classroom where pop music icon Taylor Swift’s lyrics become the centerpiece of academic analysis. This unconventional approach to teaching rhetoric at Northern Arizona University (NAU) is captivating students who are eager to explore language and persuasion through the lens of modern pop culture.
Reimagining Rhetoric with Pop Culture
Kim Hensley Owens, a professor of English at NAU, has redefined the teaching of rhetoric by centering her class around Taylor Swift’s extensive discography. “Taylor Swift is so famous, so prolific, so omnipresent,” Owens explains. “She’s written a song about every single life situation.” This widespread recognition and appeal make Swift an ideal focus for a course designed to engage students from diverse backgrounds.
Since its inception two years ago, Hensley Owens’ class, ENG 399: Taylor Swift and the Rhetoric of (Almost) Everything, has garnered significant interest. The course draws on Swift’s music to teach students how to use language effectively to understand and shape their world. Through debates and group projects, students learn to build strong arguments using logic, emotion, and credible sources.
Exploring the ‘Eras’ of Taylor Swift
Initially, Hensley Owens wasn’t a self-proclaimed “Swiftie,” but her students’ enthusiasm quickly changed her perspective. “The more I learned from them, the more I thought, ‘This Swiftie world is super cool,’” she admits. The class structure reflects Swift’s own artistic evolution, divided into six thematic “eras” that explore the basics of rhetoric through her music, visuals, and public persona.
Students engage with Swift’s work by analyzing lyrics, music videos, and interviews, often collaborating with experts from the Department of Theatre to deepen their understanding. These activities have even converted skeptics like junior Henry Petterson, who now appreciates the broader social movements Swift’s music addresses, such as feminism and industry challenges.
Connecting with Students through Music
Owens conceived the course in response to departmental calls for relatable English classes. With a teenage daughter at home, she recognized the profound impact Swift’s music has on young audiences dealing with personal challenges. Literature major Lisa Smith, a student in the course, acknowledges the class has deepened her appreciation for Swift’s lyricism and her ability to connect with societal themes.
By fostering a classroom environment where students critically analyze lyrics as poetry, Owens equips them with skills that extend beyond the course. She observes significant personal growth in her students, with some gaining confidence in their analytical abilities and others challenging their own preconceptions.
Hensley Owens’ commitment to using Taylor Swift as an educational tool is evident beyond the classroom. She serves as the faculty advisor for the NAU Taylor Swift Society and is co-editing an academic collection on teaching with Swift. Owens reflects on her journey, noting with a laugh, “Taylor Swift is my entire life right now.” The course not only enriches students’ understanding of rhetoric but also fosters a deeper connection to language and culture.
Read More Here
Be First to Comment