NJ university offers ‘Politicizing Beyonce’

Subscribe Now Choose a package that suits your preferences.
Start Free Account Get access to 7 premium stories every month for FREE!
Already a Subscriber? Current print subscriber? Activate your complimentary Digital account.

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (AP) — Beyonce is one of the world’s most scrutinized pop stars, and now that study is moving to academia.

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (AP) — Beyonce is one of the world’s most scrutinized pop stars, and now that study is moving to academia.

The Department of Women’s and Gender Studies at Rutgers University is offering a course called “Politicizing Beyonce.”

Kevin Allred, a doctoral student teaching the class, told the university’s online news site he is using Beyonce’s career as a way to explore American race, gender and sexual politics.

The class supplements an analysis of Beyonce’s videos and lyrics with readings from black feminists. Allred said he’s seeking to help students think more critically about media consumption.

Rutgers also has a class examining the theology of Bruce Springsteen’s lyrics.

Georgetown University has a class called “The Sociology of Hip-Hop: The Urban Theodicy of Jay-Z,” focusing on Beyonce’s rapper husband.