231172 Lyrics that Speak – Analysing Contemporary Songwriting (StGr) (SoSe 2025)

This Study Group explores contemporary song lyrics as a form of literary and cultural expression. Through close reading and comparative analysis on the basis of a theoretical framework developed from a number of studies, students will examine how songwriting communicates emotion, identity, narrative, and social commentary. While Taylor Swift’s body of work will serve as a central case study, we will also consider lyrics by other artists across genres and generations to develop a broader understanding of musical storytelling. The course draws on poetic analysis, music criticism, and cultural theory to evaluate how lyrics function as both art and artifact.

Participants acquire tools for and gain experience in textual analysis, understand the historical development of songwriting as an art form, and reflect on the intersection of sound, meaning and social context. Creative components may include optional lyric writing or close reading presentations.