An evening of celebration and discussion!

Wednesday, September 25, 2024 
6:00 - 7:00 p.m. | Reception - Friendship bracelets, art and more 
7:00 - 9:00 p.m. | TayTalks NC faculty presentations  
 
North Central College 
Wentz Concert Hall 
171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville, IL

You’re invited to join North Central College for an evening of celebration and discussion around Taylor Swift as a cultural, artistic, political and economic force. As fans, scholars and students, we will examine her work and influence through the lens of the liberal arts. 

Together, we will look to understand this prolific artist more deeply and clearly. Bring your beautiful self. Bring friends. All are welcome.

Sign up for this fun event at no cost. Tickets are required. 
You will be able to choose to receive a digital ticket in advance, or RSVP for your ticket to be available at the event when you check in at the Box Office. 

Learn how TayTalks came to be!
Q&A with North Central's Dr. Jennifer Smith, professor and chair of English

TayTalk NC Faculty Presentations

Eight presentations led by North Central College faculty will consider Taylor Swift’s work and influence through different liberal arts disciplines — cultural and intellectual history, art and music, math and science, business, health and the human body.

“I sit and watch you, I notice everything you do and don’t do” 
The Eras Tour (Physical Therapy’s Version)

Dancing, walking, and strutting. The Eras Tour is a testament to human movement. Taylor Swift has an undisputed ability to perform on stage and is reportedly in the best “shape” of her life. Despite this, throughout the tour, she demonstrates movement patterns that place excessive demands on her body. This talk will focus on the postural alignment or rather, misalignment, that Taylor Swift regularly demonstrates from a physical therapy lens. Attendees will come away with a fresh perspective for viewing the tour, because let’s be honest, we’re watching the TikTok livestreams every weekend!

Presenters: 
Leanna Blanchard 
Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy 
 
Jamie LaPenna 
Lecturer in Physical Therapy 
 
Sarah Tylkowski 
Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy

“At least that’s what people say” 
An Examination of Mis- and Dis-information Through Taylor Swift Rumors

Did Taylor Swift perform witchcraft on stage? Take a photo with someone wearing a swastika shirt? Rent Disney World for a day? Wear a hat made of human skin? The answer to one of these questions is yes. From speculations on Swift’s relationship status, to claims that she is secretly a clone of a former Satanist, mis- and dis-information about the star are rampant and diverse. This talk will consider the concepts of mis- and dis-information through media claims regarding Swift and present tools for finding the truth and avoiding the “liars and the dirty, dirty cheats in the world.”

Presenter: 
Laura Cameron 
Academic Services Librarian, Oesterle Library 

Boundaries Unmasked: 
A Critical Examination of Female Containment in Taylor Swift's “The Man”

“If I was out flashing my dollars, I'd be a bitch, not a baller.” This line in “The Man” describes women’s double bind in American society. The all-too-familiar narrative woven in the song navigates layers of societal norms, gendered expectations, and power dynamics. By analyzing specific verses and music video and live performance elements through the theoretical lenses of the metaspace and containment, this talk will dissect the themes of female control and their pursuit of agency within a patriarchal American society. In doing so, it will explore the punishments levied for daring to break out of the public/private sphere binary.

Presenter: 
Suzanne Chod 
Professor of Political Science; Coordinator of Gender and Sexuality Studies

"If I was a man, I'd be the man" 
Catchy Song Lyrics or Ethical Corporate Conundrum? 

The statistical reality of the gender gap in the workplace — from pay to opportunity — is well documented and consistently unfavorable for women. There was improvement, most notably during the 80s and 90s, in terms of pay. After the pandemic, more flexible work options also offered improvement in terms of opportunities for women. However, both the pay increase and the flexibility that eliminates some entrance barriers have stalled. However, rather than being “the man,” women are building communities and advocating for a workplace that allows women to flourish. Starting with “lean in” in 2013 and in the years since, women are working to understand how they can thrive and move to create a different workplace. Now is the time for women to hold firm and ask for—unapologetically—what they want.

Presenter: 
Shelly Hall 
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Business Law

Are Taylor Swift’s Songs Truly Golden? 

The constant known as the golden ratio (φ≈1.618) has inspired thinkers and artists dating back to the ancient Greeks. Connections to the golden ratio can be found in nature, architecture, art, and the search for beauty. In this talk, we will analyze some of Taylor Swift’s most popular songs to see which ones adhere to a golden proportion. She may make the whole place shimmer, but are Taylor’s songs truly golden?

Presenter: 
Katherine Heller 
Professor of Mathematics

“I did something bad” 
Scientific Ethics and J. Robert Oppenheimer

Taylor Swift is such an influential figure in part because she asks relatable questions about topics such as autonomy, public opinion and regret. These same questions can be applied to the scientific process. In a world where research is most often funded by the government and wars frequently drive scientific innovation, it is important to think about how your work might be used and if you are okay with that. We will address these topics through the case study of Oppenheimer and the atomic bomb and draw parallels to other ongoing major research questions in physics today.

Presenter: 
Susan Kempinger 
Assistant Professor of Physics

Love, Light, and Truth in Taylor Swift's "Daylight" and Plato's Allegory of the Cave

While at first glance they make an unlikely pairing, taking a closer look at Taylor Swift’s music and Plato’s philosophical work reveals interesting parallels. In this exploration, we examine the connections between Taylor Swift’s song “Daylight” and Plato’s allegory of the cave. Drawing on themes of love, light and truth, the analysis highlights how Swift’s lyrical transition from darkness to illumination mirrors the allegory’s depiction of a prisoner’s journey from the shadows of ignorance to enlightenment in a world full of sunlight.

Presenter: 
Shaheen Moosa 
Associate Professor of Philosophy; Assistant Dean of Interdisciplinary Programs and Initiatives, College of Arts and Sciences

Super Bowl Pie

An NFL football game is 60 minutes in length (four 15-minute quarters), and the typical broadcast is four hours in length. However, because of a running game clock, live football-action only consumes around 18 minutes of the broadcast. That is almost 15 minutes of non-football content for every minute of football. So, what was taking up that non-football content? Viewers experience about 50 minutes of commercials, 30-minute sponsored halftime show, on-air personalities in the broadcast booth, sideline reporting, game replays, and random “fluff.” The most valuable fluff in the 2024 Super Bowl? Less than one minute of Taylor Swift.

Presenter:  
Jason Rice 
Associate Professor of Sports Management