01of 12
Lana Del Rey
Lana Del Rey.Rebecca Sapp/Getty
The course is set to feature a curriculum focused on “Del Rey’s contributions to 21st Century pop stardom, her relationship to feminism, her musical influences and artists she has influenced, and her connection to social justice movements such as #BlackLivesMatter, #MeToo and #TimesUp,” according toVariety, which cited an NYU representative.
02of 12
Two Taylor Swift Courses
Taylor Swift.ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images
On Aug. 23, the University of Texas at Austin announced the newest addition to the curriculum: “TheTaylor SwiftSongbook,” an English course for the fall 2022 semester.
“Students in the course will study Swift’s songs alongside the traditional canon of Western literature: Shakespeare, Keats, and Frost,” Professor Scaladetailed in the announcement. “They’ll be asked to analyze and contextualize common practices and problems across the centuries.”
Previously, New York University’s Clive Davis Institutelaunched a brand new courseonTaylor Swiftfor its spring 2022 semester,Varietyreported.
“This course proposes to deconstruct both the appeal and aversions toTaylor Swiftthrough close readings of her music and public discourse as it relates to her own growth as an artist and a celebrity,” the course description read, in part, according to the outlet.
03of 12Harry Styles and the Cult of Celebrity: Identity, the Internet and European Pop CultureHarry Styles.Dave J Hogan/GettyIn July 2022, Texas State University announced a new class for spring 2023, focused on Styles, identity and pop culture.“I’ve always wanted to teach a history class that is both fun, but also covers a period that students have lived through and relate to,” said associate professor of digital history, Dr. Louie Dean Valencia,per the local NBC affiliate. “By studying the art, activism, consumerism and fandom around Harry Styles, I think we’ll be able to get to some very relevant contemporary issues. I think it’s so important for young people to see what is important to them reflected in their curriculum.”
03of 12
Harry Styles and the Cult of Celebrity: Identity, the Internet and European Pop Culture
Harry Styles.Dave J Hogan/Getty
In July 2022, Texas State University announced a new class for spring 2023, focused on Styles, identity and pop culture.
“I’ve always wanted to teach a history class that is both fun, but also covers a period that students have lived through and relate to,” said associate professor of digital history, Dr. Louie Dean Valencia,per the local NBC affiliate. “By studying the art, activism, consumerism and fandom around Harry Styles, I think we’ll be able to get to some very relevant contemporary issues. I think it’s so important for young people to see what is important to them reflected in their curriculum.”
04of 12Politicizing BeyoncéKevin Winter/Getty"While other artists are simply releasing music, she’s creating a grand narrative around her life, her career and her persona," Kevin Allred, a lecturer Rutgers, toldTodayof the offering in 2014. Again we ask, “Who run the world?”
04of 12
Politicizing Beyoncé
Kevin Winter/Getty
“While other artists are simply releasing music, she’s creating a grand narrative around her life, her career and her persona,” Kevin Allred, a lecturer Rutgers, toldTodayof the offering in 2014. Again we ask, “Who run the world?”
05of 12Sociology of Hip-Hop: JAY-ZGeorge Pimentel/WireImageJust like his wife, JAY-Z had a course named after him at Georgetown University. The rapper’s bookDecodedwas required reading, according totheDaily News. And there were exams on “JAY-Z-ology.” Seriously.
05of 12
Sociology of Hip-Hop: JAY-Z
George Pimentel/WireImage
Just like his wife, JAY-Z had a course named after him at Georgetown University. The rapper’s bookDecodedwas required reading, according totheDaily News. And there were exams on “JAY-Z-ology.” Seriously.
06of 12The Sociology of Miley CyrusGettyShe’s just being Miley – and academics want to talk about that. The singer inspired a class at Skidmore College and Professor Carolyn Chernofftold ABC Newsthat Cyrus is such an interesting subject because she “complicates representations of the female body in pop culture in some ways that are good, bad and ugly.”
06of 12
The Sociology of Miley Cyrus
Getty
She’s just being Miley – and academics want to talk about that. The singer inspired a class at Skidmore College and Professor Carolyn Chernofftold ABC Newsthat Cyrus is such an interesting subject because she “complicates representations of the female body in pop culture in some ways that are good, bad and ugly.”
07of 12
Bruce Springsteen’s Theology
08of 12Sean Combs & Urban CultureJoel Ryan/APThe course booklet atNew York University explained, “Though sometimes not treated with the seriousness he deserves, Combs has had a profound effect on global culture of the last 20 years.” It seems that the class focused mostly on his reign in the ’90s and the only problem with that? No study ofMaking the Band, which began in 2000. For shame, NYU, for shame.
08of 12
Sean Combs & Urban Culture
Joel Ryan/AP
The course booklet atNew York University explained, “Though sometimes not treated with the seriousness he deserves, Combs has had a profound effect on global culture of the last 20 years.” It seems that the class focused mostly on his reign in the ’90s and the only problem with that? No study ofMaking the Band, which began in 2000. For shame, NYU, for shame.
09of 12
Lady Gaga and the Sociology of Fame
Kevin Mazur/WireImage
10of 12Kanye Versus EverybodyMike Pont/FilmMagicHe has an album calledThe College Dropout, but if West ever decides to re-enroll, he can study himself. In 2015 it was announced that Georgia State University was offering a course subtitled, according to TheFader.com.
10of 12
Kanye Versus Everybody
Mike Pont/FilmMagic
He has an album calledThe College Dropout, but if West ever decides to re-enroll, he can study himself. In 2015 it was announced that Georgia State University was offering a course subtitled, according to TheFader.com.
11of 12
Michael Jackson: The Business of Music
12of 12
Editing James Franco … with James Franco
Charles Sykes/AP
source: people.com
