Queen’s University will offer a unique law course this fall, focusing on the legal experiences of pop sensation Taylor Swift. The course, titled Law (Taylor’s Version), will delve into case studies exclusively drawn from Swift’s interactions with the legal system throughout her career.
Professor Mohamed Khimji, a self-proclaimed Swiftie, will lead the course. He believes that Swift’s experiences provide valuable teaching material, stating, “What makes the course unique is that the case studies are exclusively from Taylor Swift’s interactions with the law during the course of her career.”
Swift, despite her clean criminal record, has faced numerous copyright lawsuits and contractual battles related to the ownership of her music. She has even clashed with music streaming giant Spotify.
According to Khimji, these legal battles provide ample material for the course. “We’re all familiar with the famous example of Taylor Swift removing her music from Spotify, Taylor Swift re-recording her albums, which has had a huge impact on how record deals are negotiated today,” he said.
Word of the course has spread rapidly on campus, generating excitement among students. Kevin Whittington, a third-year law student, expressed regret for graduating before the course’s launch. His classmate, Andrada Marinescu, joked about extending their studies to enroll in it.
The course’s appeal extends beyond law students. Connor Killingbeck, a fourth-year computer science student, finds it intriguing due to Swift’s significance in pop culture.
Marinescu, a former Queen’s Law Society council member, appreciates the blend of pop culture and academia. She believes that the common law system’s reliance on precedent and case law necessitates a non-prejudicial approach to pop culture and boundary-pushing phenomena. She emphasizes that these factors shape the future of law, as evident in daily events.
Enrollment in the course will open in September, offering students a chance to learn from the legal intricacies of one of the most influential figures in pop culture.
