Politicizing Beyoncé: A Pass or A Fail?
There is a camp of women who believe Beyoncé’s guerilla feminine energy is crude, stereotypical, unnecessary and ultimately degrading. They have asserted that she doesn’t warrant any more attention, much less a college course, to feed into the pandemonium her career has already encouraged. These women often prefer female-empowering artists which conversely display very little over-the-top sexuality, usually wear natural hair styles or head wraps, and always present themselves in a humble light. See: India.Arie, Erykah Badu, and Lauryn Hill.
While some may disagree that Beyoncé has earned the privilege of a course study at the collegiate level, the question of validity stands tall. Will a course on Beyoncé teach college students something new about politicizing Black female pop icons? Has Beyoncé’s impact on the world really earned her a spot amongst, Tupac, John Coltrane, Nina Simone, Prince and other artists who have classes in institutions?
One thing’s for sure, there is absolutely no dismissing her already amassed career achievements including 75 million albums sold, 16 Grammy’s, 11 VMA’s, a Billboard Millennium Award, and ranking first on Forbes list of the 100 most powerful and influential musicians in the world. It’s clear that Beyoncé is the front-runner of this generation’s most trailblazing stars, but a course—really?
Whether or not one respects and understands her guerilla feminine energy, Beyoncé’s ability to demand discussion is unparalleled in the 21st century. Perhaps the significance of the Politicizing Beyoncé course is the provision of a space to discuss how one Black female entertainer’s career has incited dialogue on social issues in American society.
Above all, Beyoncé is amongst a small but poignant group of historical artists who have excited, inspired, shocked, upset, but ultimately made people think—and speak out.
Why do people keep saying Black women are hating when??? First off Beyonce owes her whole damn career to black women @QoNew we make up at least 80% of her fan base so have a seat with this mess and just because everyone doesn’t agree on giving her a college course does not mean that people are hating. so stop with these generalizations because black women aren’t even the only ones who aren’t that are sometimes unimpressed with Beyonce which by the way I am not even one of them. But why are black women always generalizing other black women for having opposing opinions and calling them haters because they don’t agree? If you ask me that word is being extremely misused. And as I always say as a black woman Beyonce has so much of my money I couldn’t possibly hate her just because she don’t need to be taught at nobodies college doesn’t mean that I don’t enjoy her music and support her but hell Mattew Knowles needs a course before she gets one but if you feel it is necessary then go for it cause I don’t attend this college so it doesn’t directly effect me but my opinion on it still stands and I have a right to have one with out being accused of a hating on another black woman by some fiendish stans,
I also wanted to add that I think this course equals easy money for this college because Beyonce got almost more stans than money and surely some of them must attend this school so I predict this class will be full pretty quickly and I believe the ultimate goal of doing this is how can we capitalize off of her fan base especially at a time where she is being most talked about because of her pregnancy and I think it was the same with that bug they named after and the kids clothing line that they named after her daughter. But stans can go on believing she’s this profound character who should be studied when she really is just a beautiful over saturated and very talented pop star. And when people see her they see dollar signs. #wakethefuckup #idiots
Excellent read! These pop star courses weren’t offered at the university that I attended. But honestly, if they were, I would of enrolled (including the Beyonce course).
As a fan of music and semi fan of Beyonce the question of “has Beyoncé’s impact on the world really earned her a spot amongst, Tupac, John Coltrane, Nina Simone, Prince,” is debatable. Yes, she has catchy hits and several songs that empower the ladies which makes her a match for the Women’s Studies Department.
But her music is not, at all as socially and politically expressive as a Tupac and Nina Simone which excludes the course to be offered in other departments like Black Studies.
She is a pop star engine who knows her audience and feeds them with what they want.
I don’t know about the course, however I would love to see a syllabus ! What bothers me is that people automatically write off Beyonce because she dresses provacatively (during performances) and asserts her sexuality. For example: “These women often prefer female-empowering artists which conversely display very little over-the-top sexuality, usually wear natural hair styles or head wraps, and always present themselves in a humble light. See: India.Arie, Erykah Badu, and Lauryn Hill.”
Since when is there a one-size fits all mode for feminism or female-empowering entertainment?? In order for an India.Arie to exist there has to be someone on the opposite end of the spectrum i.e. Beyonce.
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