Beyonce Course Being Offered at Rutgers University

Published on January 31, 2012 by Sincerely Smith · No Comments

Im fully aware that pop culture has an unmeasurable affect on society–sometimes in a positive way and other times it can have a not so desirable effect. Im also aware that international pop entertainer, Beyonce, has had a major impact on popular culture around the globe. Her name pops up in music, clothing, film, perfume, magazine, and any other medium thats available. Now, the star may be popping up in college — not as a student, but as a college course.

I’m not sure how I’d feel about paying for, enrolling in, and consequentally taking a test or final exam in a course that surrounds Beyonce.

Welp, the students at Rutgers University may know this feeling very soon. Thanks to their trendy professors they will be able to take the college course “Politicizing Beyonce.” It falls under Rutgers’ Department of Women’s and Gender Studies, and doctoral student and lecturer Kevin Allred teaches the class.

Beyonce roles as both sex symbol and role model are compared and analyzed. Allred explains:

“This isn’t a course about Beyoncé’s political engagement or how many times she performed during President Obama’s inauguration weekend.” He adds, “While other artists are simply releasing music, she’s creating a grand narrative around her life, her career, and her persona.”

Woe to the student who fails this class! Interesting to see how the students take to this one.

-Smith