A Rutgers University doctoral student, Kevin Allred, currently teaches a class on Beyonce. The class called “Politicizing Beyonce” examines the lyrics and videos of the singer in comparison of the writings of Alice Walker and Sojouner Truth.

 

“This isn’t a course about Beyonce’s political engagement or how many times she performed during President Obama’s inauguration weekend,” Allred explained via the school’s news site. “She certainly pushes boundaries. While other artists are simply releasing music, she’s creating a grand narrative around her life, her career, and her persona.”

 

Allred’s was inspired to create the course after a long debate, which spanned over 4 semesters, with students over if Beyonce was a role model.  The course touch on several topics such as Beyonce’s alter-ego “Sasha Fierce”, her half-nakedness is empowering or stereotypical, and her control over her own aesthetic. But Beyonce is not the only singer the course highlights. It also shines a light on Lady GaGa, Nina Simone, and  Billie Holiday.

“It’s important to shift students away from simply being consumers of media toward thinking more critically about what they’re engaging on a regular basis,” Allred added. “When students don’t respond to theory or dense readings, it’s often easier to see things play out in the world around them.”

 

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