The Lennox Lecture Series, an annual event at Trinity University since 2008, invites scholars to engage in intellectual discussions on a specific topic, through a seminar class and guest lecture series. This year, the focus is on Taylor Swift, inspired by new scholarly works on her music and growing academic interest in her artistic contributions. The seminar promises a rich blend of perspectives, incorporating philosophy, literary criticism and more to explore the complexity of Swift’s work.
The course, taught by faculty members Betsy Tontiplaphol, professor of English, and Andrew Kania, professor of philosophy, aims to examine “Taylor Swift’s artistry, particularly her “Taylor’s Versions” project, as a philosophical thought experiment. It welcomes all students, from long-time Swifties to newcomers, emphasizing critical analysis over mere fan enthusiasm.
The idea of featuring Taylor Swift in the Lennox Lecture Series stems from Dr. Tontiplaphol’s collection of essays, “The Literary Taylor Swift,” and Kania’s philosophical exploration of the art of re-recording, with particular focus on Swift’s re-recorded albums.
“It’s just sort of an exciting moment in academic studies of Swift,” Tontiplaphol said. “A lot of great material is coming out, and these books are brand-spanking new, and so it was exciting to think about using them as the kind of anchors for the Lennox seminar.”
One of the featured scholars, Rachel Feder, specializes in the intersection of literary and pop culture criticism. Her recently published a book called “Taylor Swift by the Book: The Literature Behind the Lyrics, from Fairy Tales to Tortured Poets,” which discusses Swift’s literary references, will serve as a foundation for her upcoming lecture, “Swiftie Poetics,” on Feb. 5.
While Taylor Swift might not be the first figure that comes to mind for academic study, Tontiplaphol argues that her work offers much to be explored.
“I think that academic study can enrich most things, if not all, because at the heart of what we do is ask hard questions about what things are, what things mean, what their values are, etc. I certainly don’t exclude pop culture in that,” Tontiplaphol said. “Taylor Swift’s work as a songwriter is really thoughtful and interesting. Taylor Swift is a kind of connoisseur of her industry.”
Kania expanded on this perspective, delving into the philosophical implications of Swift’s re-recording work.
“Philosophers have said that paintings can have different meanings or contents depending on the context in which they are created, even if they are visually identical,” Kania said. “Taylor Swift is literally doing this with her Taylor’s Versions. … It’s like Taylor Swift as a 35-year-old recording this track, versus Taylor Swift as a 21-year-old recording it. How does that change the meaning of the song? How is it different, even if it sounds the same? Doesn’t it have a different kind of feeling and meaning? That’s what excites me about her work.”
Throughout the series, scholars will explore Swift’s complex artistry through various lenses, such as her influences from country poetics like Tim McGraw, the incorporation of queer politics in her music and the expectations placed on her by her fans and the public.
Both Kania and Tontiplaphol stress that the lectures are not a celebration of Taylor Swift as a pop star but rather an exploration of her work as an artist.
“I probably shouldn’t admit how ignorant I am about popular culture in general, but I didn’t know much about Taylor Swift at all before I started getting interested in these philosophical questions about her work,” Kania said. “And since then, I’ve listened to her complete discography … I don’t see how anyone could deny that she’s a great songwriter, musician and artist, even if people aren’t into it.”
Students enrolled in the course have already begun to reflect on their experiences and are eager to attend the upcoming lectures. Camille Semmes, junior English and communication double-major, shared her experience in the class.
“I’ve been a Swiftie for as long as I can remember and always love to work her into my writing for class when it’s relevant,” Semmes said. “I don’t think I’ve taken another class where people are so eager to actually speak in class, but I feel so lucky to even be taking a class where someone can make a Taylor Swift reference and it’s always understood and relevent to the conversation.”
The Lennox Lecture Series continues to create meaningful discussions around art, culture and the complex layers of creative work. With Taylor Swift as this year’s focal point, it is clear that her influence extends far beyond the pop charts into the realms of philosophy, literature and critical thought.
