In this episode of On Brand Taylor’s Version, we’re joined by Stephanie Burt, poet, critic, and professor of English at Harvard University. Stephanie made headlines when she created and taught one of the very first college courses on Taylor Swift at Harvard, Taylor Swift and her world. We discuss what it means to study Taylor seriously at Harvard, why her storytelling resonates so widely, and what we can all learn from her profound cultural impact.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
- How Taylor Swift’s approach to storytelling parallels the way we relate to literature and life, making her English-teacher-like to her fans
- The narrative techniques and structural choices that make her songwriting resonate across diverse audiences
- How she revisits, rewrites, and evolves previous stories in her music to deepen character and theme
- The role of collaboration, marketing, and audience awareness in building a fan community that scales from niche to mainstream
- How joy, friendship, and shared experiences are expressed in her music, and why songs like 22 continue to resonate
Episode Chapters
- (00:00) Intro
- (01:12) Taylor Swift as an English Teacher: Literary Language and Fan Connection
- (05:30) Building Fan Communities and Shared Experiences
- (10:22) Storytelling Techniques: Point of View, Character, and Rewriting Songs
- (18:10) Revisiting and Evolving Previous Stories: Love Story and Forever & Always
- (25:12) Adult Love, Partnership, and Feminist Storytelling
- (32:01) Niche Fan Communities, Mainstream Appeal, and Marketing Savvy
- (38:22) Collaboration and Craft: Working with Musicians and Audiences
- (40:01) Guest’s Favorite Taylor Song: 22 and Closing Thoughts
About Stephanie Burt
Stephanie Burt is the Donald P. and Katherine B. Loker Professor of English at Harvard University. She specializes in 20th- and 21st-century poetry, science fiction, and the intersections of literature with other arts. Her work has appeared in The New York Times Book Review, The London Review of Books, Slate, and The Times Literary Supplement. Burt is the author of several acclaimed books of poetry and literary criticism, and her upcoming book, Taylor’s Version: The Poetic and Musical Genius of Taylor Swift, explores the artistry and cultural impact of Taylor Swift. At Harvard, she teaches courses including “Taylor Swift and Her World,” which has drawn widespread attention for its innovative exploration of music, poetry, and popular culture. She currently serves as co-editor of poetry for The Nation and is a recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship.
What Taylor Era Has Made Stephanie Smile Recently?
Stephanie Burt shared that Taylor Swift’s 22 has made her smile recently. She appreciates the song’s joyful energy, its celebration of friendship and solidarity, and its ability to evoke youthful exuberance even later in life. 22 exemplifies how Swift crafts universally relatable experiences, blending music and storytelling to create both nostalgia and shared joy.
Resources & Links
- Connect with Stephanie Burt on Blue Sky @NotQuiteHydePark
- Connect with Stephanie Burt on Instagram: @NotQuiteHydePark
- Pre-order Stephanie’s new book, Taylor’s Version: The Poetic and Musical Genius of Taylor Swift
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Until next week, I’ll see you on the Internet!
