Yale University is introducing a new course dedicated to studying Beyoncé, set to begin in the upcoming spring semester. The course, titled “Beyoncé Makes History: Black Radical Tradition History, Culture, Theory & Politics Through Music,” aims to explore Black intellectual thought and activism through her music. This is part of a broader trend in higher education, with universities worldwide offering classes that delve into the cultural impact of pop stars like Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, and Lady Gaga.
The course will focus on Beyoncé’s musical evolution, from her groundbreaking 2013 album to her most recent work, “Cowboy Carter.” Students will analyze her albums, performance politics, and concert films. Additionally, the class will examine her work in relation to Black feminist theory, philosophy, anthropology, art history, performance studies, and musicology.
The class will be taught by Daphne Brooks, a writer and Black studies scholar who co-founded Yale’s Black Sound & the Archive Working Group.
Brooks, who previously taught a course on Black women in popular music at Princeton, has been planning this course for years and sees it as a unique opportunity to focus exclusively on Beyoncé’s influence.
