Yale's Beyoncé Course Faces Online Criticism

Yale University has announced a new course titled 'Beyoncé Makes History: Black Radical Tradition History, Culture, Theory & Politics through Music,' set to debut in the spring semester. The course, taught by African American studies and music professor Daphne Brooks, aims to explore Beyoncé's cultural and political impact through her music, focusing on her work from the 2013 album to the 2024 release 'Cowboy Carter'. While Yale frames the course as a serious academic endeavor, it has faced online criticism, with skeptics questioning the course's practical relevance. Brooks, who has a history of teaching similar courses, argues that Beyoncé's music offers a unique lens for examining Black intellectual thought and activism. This course is part of a growing trend in academia to analyze pop culture figures, with similar courses offered on Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga at other universities. Despite the skepticism, Brooks reports high levels of interest and excitement from students and faculty alike at Yale.