Colleges Offer Pop Culture Classes

College students can sign up for a variety of classes depending on their majors and what is offered. However, there are several courses, appearing in universities across the country, that stand out for their pop culture themes.

The American University in Washington DC offers “The Hunger Games: Class, Politics, and Marketing,” University of South Carolina teaches “Lady Gaga and the Sociology of Fame,” and Rutgers University has “Politicizing Beyonce.”

Duke University, in North Carolina, has a class named “California, Here We Come.” Its course description states, “We’ll explore the ‘hyper self-awareness’ unique to The OC and analyze Californian exceptionalism and singularity in history and popular culture, girl culture, 21st century suburban revivalism, the indie music scene, the meta-series, and more. We’ll go on the excessive journey of the foursome that captured the hearts of millions and changed teen television dramady forever. Get out your surfboards (or skateboards, if you’re more a land shark). California, here we come.”

Sometimes, these uncommon classes appear ridiculous but actually cover important topics.

For example, at Skidmore College, students can enroll in “Sociology of Miley,” which refers to Miley Cyrus. The class focuses on themes such as feminism and how media has affected Cyrus’ public image. Having an interesting name for the class might be for publicity and to draw more students to the class.

A senior at Whitney High School, Jadelyn Upramai, praised the idea behind the classes.

In an interview with JSR, Upramai said, “I think these classes are a good idea because they’re a fun and interesting way for college students to be exposed to issues and ideas that they might not have noticed if it weren’t behind the name of a celebrity who they admire. The Beyonce class seems especially interesting, seeing as she is becoming an increasing symbol of feminism with her songs’ messages about women.”

Erin Ryu, a freshman at University of California, San Diego, stated her opinion and was less enthusiastic than Upramai.

“It sounds fun,” Ryu told JSR, “but also sounds like a waste of time. During that time, I could be taking more classes helpful to my future career and I feel like I and other people wouldn’t take that kind of class seriously.”

Though these classes may not be for everyone, they could be thought provoking and interesting. By enrolling in a course that combines their pop culture interests with their studies, students can look forward to learning in a special environment.