The University of the Philippines is embracing a new phase as it introduces a course dedicated to the study of singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, marking a significant development for the renowned institution in the Philippines.
Cherish Aileen Brillon from UP College of Mass Communication shared that the course will focus on the conception, construction, and the performance of Taylor Swift as a prominent figure.
The goal is to explore how Swift can serve as a lens to elucidate the intricate connections between class, politics, gender, race, and aspirations of success and mobility within the context of Philippine media.
“There have been many courses about Taylor Swift in universities abroad, and I think there hasn’t been one in the Philippines yet,” Brilon said.
Through the elective, Brilon said she is interested in knowing how Filipinos have appropriated Swift not only as a transnational icon but also as a signifier of an emerging type of local fandom activism.
The course within the BA Broadcast Media Arts and Studies program is scheduled for the second semester of the academic year 2023-2024.
Taylor Swift courses have been provided not only by UP but also by other universities such as New York University, the University of Texas, Arizona State University, Stanford University, and Harvard University.