New Jersey's Rutgers University will be soon offering a class on Beyonce entitled "Politicizing Beyonce," which will explore American race, gender and sexual politics in relation to the pop star's larger-than-life career. Kevin Allred, a Ph.D. student at Rutgers, developed the course out of his experience teaching Women Studies 101 at the university. The course will also discuss the "thin line" the pop star is said to walk when it comes to being a sexualized performer and a female role model, while Allred also states the class on Beyonce won't be about her political engagement.
Course topics will discuss Beyonce's control over her own image, and will pair the pop star's videos and lyrics with Black feminist readings.
Additional Source:
Beyonce Online
Pop Star Courses
Rutgers University in New Jersey Will Offer a Class on Beyonce
Trend Themes
1. Pop Star Courses - The rise of specialized courses on pop culture figures presents an opportunity for universities to attract more students and offer a unique perspective on current societal issues.
2. Political Pop Culture - Incorporating popular media figures into academic discourse allows for a critical analysis of politics and societal norms through the lens of entertainment.
3. Feminist Discourse in Pop Culture - Courses that explore the intersection of gender and entertainment can foster discussion and advocacy for equal representation in media.
Industry Implications
1. Higher Education - Universities can capitalize on the trend of specialized courses on popular media figures to attract more students and provide a unique educational experience.
2. Entertainment - Entertainment companies can incorporate a critical analysis of politics and societal norms into their media to encourage discussion and provoke thought.
3. Advocacy Groups - Advocacy groups focused on gender and representation can use the trend of feminist discourse in pop culture to promote their cause and encourage change in media.