Today's Article

CNN Correspondent: Professor Stephanie Burt, a 1die-hard Taylor Swift fan herself, is teaching an 2English literature class about the megastar at Harvard University. 

Stephanie Burt: We're looking at Taylor Swift's work and career and the works of art around that. 

CNN Correspondent: Nearly 300 students 3signed up for her class. 

Mary Catherine Hanafee, Harvard University Student: I think the kind of atmosphere in the class is very joyous. I'm taking it with a couple of friends, and the first day when we walked in, we could not stop laughing out of the 4sheer 5amazement that we were able to take this class at Harvard for credit. Definitely 6posting that TikTok was very interesting. And there were a lot of people saying that this class should not be taught at Harvard, that our education system is failing us. 

Stephanie Burt: Taylor Swift isn't a serious songwriter and why are you doing this? And you've brought down the institution. That's just silly. 

CNN Correspondent: Professor Burt says that Taylor's songwriting and 7lyrics are actually full of references to many English literary works and 8worth a closer look. 

Stephanie Burt: I want more people to read Alexander Pope. And the way you get people into creators and works of art that are not famous, that aren't well known, is by 9connecting them to things people already like. And you have to do it 10sincerely and 11wholeheartedly or it won't work.