Swifterature: where pop music meets English literature
Yesterday evening, I jumped on a train to the city of Ghent. It was dark and cold, the full moon shining so brightly against the night sky that it almost felt like a small spotlight guiding me to the university library. A good omen, I told myself rather optimistically, choosing to ignore the origins of the word lunatic. Fortunately, there was no wild moon energy in store; just an evening in the company of the delightful “madwoman” who dared to make Taylor Swift the subject of academic study in Flanders.
Professor Ellie McCausland, who teaches English literature at UGent, presented her new book Swifterature at a launch that felt like a genuine celebration. There was laughter, enthusiasm, even cake – the perfect touch for a milestone moment in her work, bringing Taylor Swift into conversation with the literary canon.
When I first heard about Professor McCausland’s class, I remember feeling a thrill, quickly followed by the sting of wishing I were a student again. I’d already heard about American universities taking similar initiatives and how those classes had caught the attention of a much wider audience. People from other faculties were flocking to the aulas. I thought: wow. People are interested. Could we finally make people see the sexy side of literature? Could Taylor Swift help us fall back into stories again?
And then I heard about the backlash. Pop culture in academia. Pop culture that is alive and kicking and making millions. Who dares? I applauded Ms McCausland then for having the nerve to bring this into the classroom, and I applaud her now for pouring that same expertise into a non-academic book that carries us through the landscapes of literature on the wings of pop culture, fandom, and feminism.
The book launch took place in the library of the arts faculty, beautifully designed to reflect this tension between literature with a capital L and chart-topping pop music. Of course, seeing Ms McCausland up close delighted me – and made me even more wistful about no longer being a student – but I equally enjoyed the discussion about how literature and pop culture aren’t mutually exclusive worlds that exist in separate spheres. It was a joy to listen to people with different backgrounds – an academic, a pop music artist, a classically trained musician – sharing their stories about how their love for pop music intersects with their work.
Above all, the evening felt like a celebration. There were musical interludes, plenty of drinks, and even cake. I didn’t know a single person in the room, yet I felt welcome. And that was enough.
I went home with a full heart and a bit of homework: get my hands on The House of Fame and my ears on Idlewild. I’ve been taking notes. Thank you, Ms McCausland, for kindling our minds and spirits on a cold, dark December evening.
