Yale University, one of the nation’s oldest institutions, is launching a course focused on the cultural and political influence of pop star Beyonce, a move critics argue exemplifies how higher education has become detached from practical value. The course, titled “Beyonce Makes History: Black Radical Tradition History, Culture, Theory & Politics Through Music,” costs students thousands of dollars but offers little in terms of real-world application.
Instructor Daphne Brooks explained that the course will examine Beyonce’s work from her 2013 self-titled album to 2024’s “Cowboy Carter.” “This class centers the 2010s and 2020s’ sonic and visual repertoire of Beyonce… as the portal through which to rigorously examine key interdisciplinary works of Black intellectual thought,” Brooks said.
The course description lauds Beyonce’s “boundary-transgressing performance politics” and “history-making visual albums,” framing her as a critical figure in Black intellectual and activist traditions. While supporters argue the course provides cultural context, detractors see it as emblematic of the growing irrelevance of elite education.
Similar classes have appeared at other universities, including Rutgers, Arizona State, and the University of Texas at San Antonio. Critics note the trend reflects an increasing emphasis on celebrity culture in academia, which fails to prepare students for life after graduation.
At a time when college tuition continues to skyrocket, many are questioning the priorities of Ivy League schools. “This is why people are starting to view college as a scam,” one critic said, pointing out that such courses do little to advance career prospects or intellectual growth.
Yale’s decision to offer this course reinforces growing concerns that higher education has become more about chasing trends than fostering genuine academic and professional development.
