Yale mocked for introducing Beyoncé ‘Cultural Impact’ course

Yale has sparked controversy with its new course on Beyoncé's cultural impact., ed by African American studies professor Daphne Brooks.

Nov 13, 2024 - 03:00

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Yale mocked for introducing Beyoncé ‘Cultural Impact’ course

Yale University, one of the Ivy League’s most elite institutions, is facing widespread ridicule for its newly introduced course.

THE BEYONCÉ YALE COURSE

The course is called Beyoncé Makes History: Black Radical Tradition History, Culture, Theory & Politics through Music.

The university lauds this course as a serious academic examination of Beyoncé’s impact on Black intellectual thought, according to Daily Mail.

The internet, however, has had a field day questioning its relevance.

SOCIAL MEDIA REACTS TO THE YALE COURSE

Many online critics, especially on X (formerly Twitter), openly wonder how this course could benefit students in the real world.

“How will this course help me in life?” one user asked mockingly. Another chimed in, “Which job is this beneficial for?”

It’s clear that not everyone views the cultural studies course as a worthwhile addition to Yale’s curriculum, according to NBC News.

“Course on Beyoncé? Oh c’mon, we’re joking, right?” said another sarcastic comment.

BEYONCÉ’S CULTURAL IMPACT

The course, scheduled for the upcoming spring semester, will be led by African American studies and music professor Daphne Brooks.

Brooks, a respected figure in Black cultural studies, has taught similar classes at Princeton.

This is her first Beyoncé-focused course. She argues that it’s a timely subject.

“The number of breakthroughs and innovations she’s executed and the way she’s interwoven history and politics — there’s just no one like her,” Brooks said.

BEYONCÉ’S EVOLUTION

The course will study Beyoncé’s musical evolution since her self-titled 2013 album. It will also delve into broader themes of Black womanhood, representation in media, according to Sky News.

The course will also look at Beyoncé’s own subtle yet powerful political influence. Brooks believes this kind of cultural exploration has broad appeal across academic disciplines.

“Looking at culture through Beyoncé can invite us to think about the extent to which art can articulate the world we live in.

It can nourish our spirits, and give us the space to imagine better worlds,” she stated.

HIGHER EDUCATION STANDARDS

Despite Brooks’s enthusiasm, scepticism remains high. Social media users continue to take jabs at the course’s value.

One commenter wrote, “This is what counts as higher education in this country.

Yale is not a serious university anymore.”

THE TAYLOR SWIFT COURSE AT HARVARD

Another joked that with Harvard offering a Taylor Swift course earlier this year, we should brace ourselves for “courses on Donald Trump in 20 years.”

Interestingly, pop culture courses like this tend to be wildly popular.

For example, over 300 students registered for Harvard’s Taylor Swift course. It focused on her lyrics as poetry.

ENROLMENT SPIKES

Brooks notes that her previous courses often saw enrolment spikes whenever Beyoncé’s work came into focus.

“Those classes were always overenrolled,” she mentioned. “There was so much energy around the focus on Beyoncé.”

However, critics argue that this is a sign of declining standards in higher education.

One user pointedly asked, “How much is Beyoncé going to make from this class?”

BEYONCÉ AND ACADEMIC INSPIRATION

Others questioned the seriousness of studying pop icons in the academic space. They worried that Yale’s reputation might suffer from this perceived trivialisation.

For South African audiences, this trend might feel distant, though similar debates could resonate locally. Universities around the world increasingly look at cultural icons for academic inspiration.

A LIVELY DEBATE

The divide between what’s seen as serious scholarship and what’s labelled “pop culture fluff” continues to widen.

Whether studying Beyoncé’s impact will change students’ lives remains to be seen, but Yale’s latest foray into celebrity studies has certainly sparked lively debate.