The University of Texas at Austin is offering a new class in the Spring of 2015 called “Beyoncé Feminism, Rihanna Womanism.”
Specifically titled, “AFR 372C, 29690, Beyonce Feminism, Rihanna Womanism,” the college explains that it knows the course has a “very eye-catching title.” But, it explains, “Whether or not you are a Beyoncé Bey or part of the Rihanna Navy, it will cause you to do a double take while scrolling through electives. The one downside, students may not realize the type of academic inquiry or material that will be covered in the course.”
The course’s listing on the college’s website then goes on to explain the importance of the course.
“Students in this class will learn that there is far more than catchy melodies to Beyoncé’s and Rihanna’s music,” it explains. “They will not be simply listening to Beyoncé and Rihanna for fun or even comparing the roles of Beyoncé and Rihanna in popular culture, rather, students will be studying how the lyrics, music videos, and actions of these women express various aspects of black feminism such as violence, economic opportunity, sexuality, standards of beauty, and creative self-expression.”
The instructor, according to the listing, “hopes for students to understand the role black feminism plays in popular culture as well as everyday life.”
As a final hook, the university says that you will be blown away if you take this course, writing, “For any student interested in women’s and gender studies or how popular culture reflects social studies, this is a class that will make them fall crazy in love.”
This comes soon after Rutgers began offering a class entitled, “Feminist Perspectives: Politicizing Beyoncé.”
That course offers the all-important question: “We will attempt to position Beyoncé as a progressive, feminist, and even queer figure through close examination of her music alongside readings on political issues, both contemporary and historical. We will juxtapose Beyoncé’s music with writings on black feminism and the black female experience in the U.S. (and beyond), to attempt to answer: can Beyoncé’s music be seen as a blueprint for progressive social change?”
