Simply because the world of further education is a wonderful world where pretty much anything is possible, you can now take a university course on T-Swizzle herself, Ms Taylor Swift.
Nope, we’re not even remotely joking.
Yes, that’s right, in the same way that you can study things like the world of Harry Potter and Golf Management (whatever that is), people can now sign up for a university course on pop queen Taylor Swift. Now that’s what I call influence.
We regret to inform you that these classes aren’t yet available in the UK as far as we know, but if we know one thing about die-hard Swifties, it’s that they’ll go to extraordinary lengths to express their love for her — maybe even fly to another country just to bask in the knowledge of their favourite artist.
Arizona State University will offer a new course this fall titled “Psychology of Taylor Swift – Advanced Topics of Social Psychology.”
The course teaches advanced topics in social psychology that is featured in Swift’s work, life, and fans including romantic relationships,… pic.twitter.com/Iu1GR8n6zu
Probs be a good way of getting over an ex, to be fair.
Remarking the course as “a ‘swift’ approach to learning psychology”, Arizona State University’s new course, Psychology of Taylor Swift — Advanced Topics of Social Psychology, will draw on themes that feature in her songs as well as a focus on family, friends, fame and more.
ADVERTISEMENT
As ASU went on to explain when announcing the new set of classes being taught by PhD student Alexandra Wormley, “The course is basically using Taylor Swift as a semester-long example of different phenomena — gossip, relationships, revenge”.
The graduate teaching assistant rebuffed any suggestions that this is merely an intense exercise in fandom, emphasising that “the class is not a seminar on how much we like or dislike her — we want to be able to learn about psychology.”
ADVERTISEMENT
There’s no doubt plenty of people in the world that would find the psychology behind one of the world’s biggest pop stars fascinating. In fact, it turns out this isn’t even the only place offering a course on Taylor Swift — they’re not even the only university to announce one this month. What is happening?…
🎓 | Ghent University introduces a new course on Taylor Swift: “Literature (Taylor's Version).” 🇧🇪
— This in-depth class examines English literature's themes, genres, and techniques (circa 900-1900) through the modern lens of popular music, with a focus on Swift. pic.twitter.com/EFIin9ltQs
As it happens, in addition to a New York college launching a course inspired by the songstress last year, earlier this month another entirely different academic institution over in Belgium also unveiled their new Taylor Swift course which will be taught by a British professor named Elly McCausland.
The course, due to start in autumn this year, will be added to the master’s degree in language and literature at Ghent University and is simply entitled, ‘Literature (Taylor’s Version)’.
ADVERTISEMENT
Now that’s just excellent.
Like Wormley, McCausland assured that this is a serious course and will essentially use Swift’s work and own musical form of literature to look at historical texts from a different perspective. It’s even got the Richard Madeley seal of approval — who knew he was a Swiftie?…
Speaking to The Guardian, she said: “What I want to do is show students that although these texts might seem inaccessible, they can be accessible if we look at them from a slightly different angle.
“So, Shakespeare, in some way, is actually addressing a lot of the same questions as Taylor Swift is today, which seems crazy, but he is.”
Explaining the course in even great detail, she told Belgian outlet Het Laaatste Nieuws that there are parallels between Swift and the likes of Sylvia Plath, Geoffrey Chaucer, Charlotte Brontë, as well as various other authors and moments in literary history.
ADVERTISEMENT
Right, we’ve heard enough and we’re convinced; we’re about to take a year of work and become even bigger Taylor Swift experts than ever.
Featured Image — Taylor Swift (via Instagram)/Republic Records
Trending
Adventurous cat caught taking a train from Yorkshire to Manchester Airport
Daisy Jackson
Train conductors have reunited an adventurous senior cat with her owners after she was caught taking a train all the way to Manchester Airport.
15-year-old Angel was discovered on board an hour-long TransPennine Express service from West Yorkshire to the airport.
The black-and-white moggy had been strolling along the train making friends with passengers on board, following conductor Will Saunders through the carriages.
It turns out Angel is something of a local legend in Brighouse, and has been caught riding rail replacement buses in the past too, as well as making herself at home in the local pub.
On this occasion, she fancied herself a little holiday and hopped on board the 3.55am service from Brighouse to Manchester Airport.
Will kept a close eye on the gorgeous cat all the way to Manchester Airport, where they settled her into a cardboard box at the station.
Will then took Angel home to Stockport for the night to keep her safe, later discovering a phone number on Angel’s collar.
He and his partner then drove Angel all the way back home to Brighouse.
Will Saunders, conductor at TPE, said: “As a cat lover myself, I couldn’t leave her to fend for herself. She was so calm and confident on the train – it was like she’d done it before!
“I’m just glad we could keep her safe and get her back home. She’s clearly a much-loved cat.”
Andrew McClements, Customer Experience & Transformation Director at TPE, added: “Our teams are used to helping customers reach their destinations, but this was definitely one of our more unusual passengers.
“We’re just glad we could make sure this adventurous feline made it home safely.”
Now back where she belongs, Angel’s tale shows that even the most curious traveller can count on TPE to help them land on their paws.
Mulligans are making butties with the team behind some of the best sandwiches in Manchester
Danny Jones
We feel like we say this almost every time they set up one of these crossovers, but Bada Bing might have just hit it out of the park with their latest collaboration, as they’re teaming up with beloved Irish bar Mulligans to create what could be the sandwich of the century.
In case you’re wondering where we’ll be when this butty becomes available, we’ll be in the legendary Manchester pub, clutching at least three of these while asking the live band to play The Sopranos theme tune in full Celtic reel fashion.
Yes, two of our very favourite places in the city centre are teaming up not just for a one-off special, the Deansgate boozer – widely considered one of the best Irish bars (if not THE best) in Manchester – is actually going to be supplying the crucial ingredient in their limited-time menu item.
Teasing the collab earlier this week, the Bada Bing boys roped in Mulligans owner, Pádraig Brady, to play his role in the announcement that quickly went viral.
Now, in case you weren’t already salivating at the mere thought of it, wait until you hear what concoction they have come up with.
Simply titled ‘Split the B’ (nice), the Bada Bing x Mulligans special edition sandwich features Mulligans’ Guinness-braised short rib, crispy spuds, greens, pickled cabbage and crispy onions. Oh. My. Word…
With punters’ favourite ‘Mullies’ pouring in more than 13,000 pints of the black stuff every single week, it won’t surprise you to learn that those lines have to be cleaned and maintained almost constantly.
It also goes without saying that wasting even a single drop of that liquid gold is a tragedy, so they had the ingenious of using that surplus stout to create a limited supply of slow-roasted, Guinness-flavoured beef fit to grace any authentic Irish stew.
Slap that meat between bread, and what do you get? Perhaps one of the greatest culinary creations we Manchester foodies have ever seen.
Speaking on the collab, Pádraig said: “At Mulligans, we take pride in every pint of Guinness we pour, so when the chance came up to team up with Bada Bing and create something special for Mancs to enjoy beyond the pub, it just made sense. Quality recognises quality.”
“We’ve always admired Mulligans for how they do things – with no shortcuts”, says Sam Gormally, co-founder of Bada Bing.”
He went on to add: “This collab celebrates everything we both love about Manchester hospitality – craft, quality and a bit of heart. It’s a proper Manc sandwich, made with a proper pint.”
In case it wasn’t already blatantly obvious, we cannot wait to try this thing, and since it’s only being served for a few days, we intend to eat as many as possible.
The ‘Split the B’ Mulligans x Bada Bing Guinness Sandwich will be available exclusively at Bada Bing, 125 Oldham St in the Northern Quarter from Thursday, 6 November – and once they’re gone, they’re GONE.
Danny Jones -
16th August 2023 
