Queen Bey Goes Ivy League: Yale University Honors Beyoncé’s Legacy with a New Course
By Francis Page, Jr.
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November 13, 2024 (Houston Style Magazine) — Houston’s own Beyoncé is now officially Ivy League material! Yale University will soon introduce a course focused on the iconic superstar, further cementing her status as one of the most culturally significant artists of our time. With a record-breaking 99 Grammy nominations and a career spanning nearly three decades, Beyoncé’s influence in music, social activism, and Black intellectual thought has captivated fans and scholars alike.
The course, “Beyoncé Makes History: Black Radical Tradition, Culture, Theory & Politics Through Music,” will explore Beyoncé’s artistic evolution from her 2013 self-titled album to her recent release, “Cowboy Carter.” Professor Daphne Brooks, who leads Yale’s African American Studies Department, views Beyoncé’s work as a “portal” through which students can engage with the writings and ideologies of Black intellectuals like Frederick Douglass and Toni Morrison.
“We’re taking seriously the ways in which the critical work of some of our greatest thinkers in American culture resonates with Beyoncé’s music,” said Professor Brooks. She applauds Beyoncé for “spectacularly elevating awareness of and engagement with grassroots social and political ideologies,” especially within movements like Black Lives Matter and the broader Black feminist discourse.
Beyoncé is no stranger to academia, as her cultural impact has inspired various university courses over the years. However, Professor Brooks argues that her influence extends beyond that of many pop icons. “Can you think of another pop musician who’s invited an array of grassroots activists to participate in multimedia projects like she has since 2013?” Brooks asked, highlighting Beyoncé’s unique approach to storytelling through the lens of race, gender, and sexuality in the African-American experience.
Reflecting on the “archive of historical memory” that Beyoncé’s work provides, Brooks notes, “She’s a fascinating artist who incorporates historical memory in a way you just don’t see with any other artist.” Brooks previously taught a class on Black women in popular music at Princeton University, where Beyoncé’s section generated the most excitement among students. Now at Yale, Brooks anticipates similar enthusiasm but plans to keep the class size intimate for in-depth discussion.
Though fans shouldn’t expect Beyoncé herself to make an appearance, Brooks joked, “If she were on tour, I would definitely try to take the class to see her!”
As Beyoncé’s hometown publication, Houston Style Magazine celebrates Yale’s recognition of this Houston-born icon. Beyoncé’s journey from local talent to global superstar is an inspiration, showing how an artist can transcend music to become a cultural movement. Her story isn’t just about her; it’s about the power of using one’s platform to shape meaningful dialogue and drive social change.
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