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.
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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.”
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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)’.
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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.
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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
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North West comedy podcast set to ‘replace Live at the Apollo’ with FREE YouTube alternative
Danny Jones
Hit North West comedy podcast Have A Word has said that it will be “replacing” Live at the Apollo following the beloved British stand-up show being cancelled this past July.
The popular Have A Word pod is one of the biggest in the UK, not to mention boasting one of the biggest Patreon memberships around.
Famously described by executive producer and co-host Carl Reigler, as well as its most avid followers, as a ‘FREE podcast that more than 32,000 people still choose to pay for’, their in-house studio already puts out regular monthly specials, produces fellow comedians’ stand-up specials and other podcasts.
And now, it looks like they’re aiming to fill the void left by Live at the Apollo, stating that they “believe there needs to be a regular stand-up series that showcases the best comedians in the country.”
Sharing a lengthy statement on their social media accounts, they wrote: “A combination of big names and the comics you haven’t heard of yet that are about to become your new favourite. But maybe it doesn’t need to be on terrestrial TV anymore…
“We are going to create that show and release it on [their] YouTube. The platform is already being utilised for comics to self-release specials; however, this, we believe, will be the first series of its kind on the platform.”
Led by Scouse comic Adam Rowe and former Manchester resident turned ‘Beat The Frog’ co-founder Dan Nightingale – who we were lucky enough to talk to chat with back in 2022 – they’ve given guest appearances to countless up-and-coming stars on the modern circuit.
Nightingale, who also founded the infamous ‘Beat The Frog’ format at the Frog and Bucket in the Northern Quarter, also compères regular nights as part of the Comedians Club Chester, providing even more opportunities for rising stars within the genre to get up on stage.
They go on to say, “We want to use the channel we’ve built to give comics an opportunity to do their stuff without the shackles and censorship that naturally come with broadcast TV. We believe there needs to be a regular stand-up series that showcases the best comedians in the country.
“A combination of big names and the comics you haven’t heard of yet that are about to become your new favourite. But maybe it doesn’t need to be on terrestrial TV anymore…”
In case you missed the news and how the unfortunate axing has come about (besides digital entertainment and streaming becoming increasingly dominant), you can find the full story down below.
22 years of spotlighting stand-up stars from all over.
Circling back to the mission statement from the pod crew, they signed off by adding, “This is the most excited we have been about a project for quite some time.”
“We cannot wait to show you what we do with this.”
Speaking on their most recent Patreon exclusive episode, Rowe went on to detail that they will be running the new live and straight-to-digital show from grassroots comedy venues, promising that the duo will not only MC, but also perform new material and spotlight at least two other talents on every episode.
The outpouring of support for the project has already begun, with plenty of fellow comics, podcast listeners, comedy fans and more praising the idea in the comments, racking up hundreds of responses and more than 12.7k comments on their Instagram alone.
What do you make of the plans to become ‘the new home’ of live comedy broadcasting?
Meanwhile, viewers and famous alumni alike are still mourning the loss of the UK TV institution, with the likes of another ex-Manc resident and UoM graduate Jack Whitehall, among many others, sharing old routines and crediting the programme’s influence on generations of the live stand-up circuit.
Sad to see Live at The Apollo is coming to an end. I remember watching it with Jack Dee as a teenager and being so excited when I finally got on it myself. End of an era. pic.twitter.com/vszlQ32Hxp
Featured Images — Have A Word Studios/Jack Finnigan (via IG)/BBC )screenshot via YouTube)
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WWE is returning to Manchester for first-ever box office televised event
Danny Jones
The WWE is coming back to Manchester for what looks set to be one of their biggest overseas event yet, let alone just here in 0161.
Following spectacles such as WWE Live and the ‘Road to Clash in Paris’ last summer, WWE is bringing proper SmackDown scenes to the UK and Europe early next year.
Announcing the blockbuster booking on Monday, 10 August, WWE has chosen the Co-op Live arena to host an unprecedented first televised edition outside of the US this coming January.
Confirming an all-star cast of competitors for one of the franchise’s biggest promotions, this one is a must-not-miss for Manc wrestling fans.
As per the caption of the announcement: “WWE brings the 2027 Road to Royal Rumble European Tour to Co-op Live, the first ever WWE televised event.
“Fans will see their favourite WWE Superstars in action including Undisputed WWE Champion CM Punk, Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan, ‘The American Nightmare’ Cody Rhodes, Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins, World Tag Team Champions The Vision and many more.”
Last time the world-famous sports entertainment company came to our city, we got to see the likes of Jey Uso, Rhea Ripley, GUNTHER, Bianca Belair, Charlotte Flair and more.
Safe to say that we have been fortunate enough to see many of their most famous faces grace the canvas already.
Manchester, of course, isn’t the only domestic/European ‘Road to Royal Rumble’ date on the calendar in 2027 either.
For anyone looking to grab tickets for the next Manchester WWE show at Co-op Live, you can sign up to find out all the details at the first opportunity right HERE.
Once again, official Co-op members get early access via the venue’s exclusive pre-sale window, and you can expect general admission to sell out fast, so keep your eyes peeled…
Danny Jones -
16th August 2023 
