If the Walking Dead can be made into a college course, so too can Beyonce. Rutgers University is offering a college course on the Grammy winner.
The class is called "Politicizing Beyonce," and is taught by doctoral student and lecturer Kevin Allred, reports Rutgers Today. Allred teaches in the University's Department of Women's and Gender Studies.
Allred said, "This isn't a course about Beyonce's political engagement or how many times she performed during President Obama's inauguration weekend." The class focuses on race, sexual politics and gender as examined through Beyonce's music and videos.
"Politicizing Beyonce" also uses readings from Black feminists, including Sojourner Truth and Alice Walker.
Allred noted that the idea for a class on Beyonce came about because she is often brought up during his Women's Studies 101 course. the discussion often centers on her persona. "She certainly pushes boundaries. While other artists are simply releasing music, she's creating a grand narrative around her life."
The course also offers an interesting way for Allred to get students interested and engaged in certain topics by using examples in the media. "When students don't respond to theory or dense readings, it's often easier to see things play out in the world around them."
According to The Associated Press, Allred also teaches a class on Bruce Springsteen's lyrics and theology. Georgetown University also teaches a class based upon Jay, called "The Sociology of Hip-Hop: The Urban Theodicy of Jay-Z."
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