Love Taylor Swift? Salem State University Offers Course on her Social Impact

There's no doubt, Taylor Swift is one of the most influential persons in the world.  Some would argue her social impact is unparalleled, making her the most watched person.

Lauren Torlone, a journalist, adjunct faculty member, and admittedly a "Swiftie" will offer a course called "The Media Impact & Society Influence of Taylor Alison Swift" this spring at Salem State University, in Salem, Massachusetts.

According to The Salem News, the professor says teaching a class on media impact of a celebrity is nothing new, citing the class would have been about Oprah 25 years ago.

Courses on the phenomenon of Taylor Swift, and "Swifties" world wide have evoked a common goal to bring joy to people around you.  Case in point, the handmade bracelets concert goers give to each other.  This is something exclusive to a T-Swift concert, much like bringing shark hats and tiki bars to Jimmy Buffet concerts.

Taylor has struck a chord with women and men, but especially young women watching pop culture evolve in society.  With Swift being one of the steady forces, not outlandishly reacting to all the false and negative stories, and speaking out politically and socially.

She's a smart businesswoman who knows how to work the media to her advantage, but really cares about her fans, and doesn't forget her roots.

Torlone is stepping out to create a course that deals with how a young media person finds the pulse of a story, and how media and journalism can draw people into the story through the humanness of the person.

Taylor Swift is certainly an influential and interesting subject, and students will learn the media's place in a pop culture world. Find out more at salemstate.edu.