Yale University Unveils a New Course Centered on Beyoncé
Yale University is set to introduce a course dedicated to Beyoncé, titled Beyoncé Makes History: Black Radical Tradition History, Culture, Theory & Politics through Music. The course will analyze Beyoncé’s body of work, from her 2013 self-titled album to 2024’s Cowboy Carter, as a lens to explore Black history, intellectual thought, and performance.
The curriculum will include screenings of the singer’s visual albums, discussions on scholarly works about her, and activities like creating playlists that connect her discography to earlier musical icons.
Daphne Brooks, a professor of African American Studies and Music, explained to the Yale Daily News that the timing of the course aligns with the recent U.S. elections, presenting an opportunity to reflect on Beyoncé’s influence on American culture. She noted that Beyoncé’s groundbreaking achievements and innovations, coupled with her ability to weave history, politics, and Black cultural narratives into her artistry, make her unique in the music industry.
Image Courtesy: India Today
In recent years, several universities have introduced courses centered on pop stars. Taylor Swift, for instance, has inspired numerous classes. Arizona State University offers a Psychology of Taylor Swift course, Stanford University dissects her song All Too Well (10 Minute Version), and UC Berkeley explores her business acumen in a class announced last year. New York University’s Clive Davis Institute launched a course in 2022 examining Swift’s evolution as a music entrepreneur and her impact on pop and country songwriting. Similarly, the University of Texas offers The Taylor Swift Songbook, a class that uses her lyrics to teach critical reading and research skills.
Other artists have also been featured in academic programs. In 2022, Concordia University in Montreal introduced a course titled Kanye vs. Ye: Genius By Design, which explored Kanye West’s career from his early days in Chicago to the release of landmark albums like College Dropout and My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Earlier this year, Stanford University offered an online course examining the music and culture of The Grateful Dead.
In related news, Beyoncé is scheduled to perform during the NFL Christmas Day Halftime Show this December, showcasing her latest album Cowboy Carter. The performance, taking place during the game between the Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens, will be livestreamed on OTT.
–Silviya.Y
