Beyoncé Course at Yale University: To celebrate cultural and academic innovation, Yale University will launch a new ‘Beyoncé makes history: black radical traditionunderstanding history, culture, theory and politics through music” Starting in the spring semester of 2025.
Led by Daphne Brooks, professor of African American studies and music, the course will explore themes of black history, intellectual thought, and performance through the lens of Beyoncé’s seminal work from 2013 to 2024. The curriculum is as bold and genre-defining as the artists studied, Beyoncé makes history generated intense interest among students eager to understand the pop icon’s profound cultural impact.
In Course: Beyoncé’s Work as a Window to History and Theory
Daphne Brooks is a renowned scholar in the field of African American studies and no stranger to teaching about the contributions of black women to music. Her latest class at Yale grew out of her previous class at Princeton University, “Black Women in Popular Music Culture,” where Beyoncé’s influence was a very popular topic among students. Daphne Brooks said Beyoncé’s energy and interest in her work were palpable: “Those classes were always over-enrolled…I always thought I should refocus her at some point and teach Center. Now at Yale, Brooks’ new course delves into Beyoncé’s artistry, examining how the singer’s career speaks to issues in the black radical tradition, from political activism to evolving cultural identity.
Why Beyoncé and why now?
Brooks believes Beyoncé’s recent projects, such as her 2013 self-titled album and 2024’s Cowboy Carter, highlight the artist’s transformation from pop star to cultural visionary, incorporating activism in a way unprecedented in pop music Integrate with art. According to the Yale Daily News, Brooks emphasized that Beyoncé’s trajectory, especially after the 2024 election, reflects “unprecedented contributions to American culture, pop culture and global culture.” This scholarly focus is timely: Beyoncé’s work serves as a powerful bridge for understanding cultural narratives and the experiences of black women in media, music, and broader sociopolitical contexts.
Beyoncé breaks down academic foundations: What will students learn?
The course takes students on a journey through Beyonce’s sonic and visual artistry, focusing on albums such as “Lemonade,” “Renaissance” and “Cowboy Carter.” Brooks aims to highlight Beyoncé’s shift from typical forms of pop music to more radical forms, exploring her art’s fusion of black feminism, activism, and cultural memory. Students will analyze Beyoncé’s visual album, examine influential readings from scholars such as Hortense Spillers and Cedric Robinson, and engage in connecting Beyoncé’s music to larger public humanities efforts Get started with practical projects. As part of the collaboration, Brooks will also integrate archival materials from Yale’s Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library to give students access to resources with practical connections to Black cultural history.
Courses for everyone: who can sign up?
Beyoncé Makes History is cross-listed across multiple departments including African American Studies, Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, American Studies, and Music, making it accessible to a wide range of Yale students. Brooks hopes the interdisciplinary format will attract students from a variety of disciplines and promote what she calls “broad community building.” She envisions courses that invite students from all academic backgrounds to reflect on how culture can be a space of resistance and refuge for marginalized communities. One student, Gemard Guery, 28, expressed his excitement for the course, telling the Yale Daily News that the course’s unique focus on Beyoncé’s legacy is among other art and history courses at Yale. stand out.
Beyond pop stardom: Beyoncé’s cultural legacy
At the heart of Brooks’ course is the idea that Beyoncé’s art has reshaped the cultural and political landscape by challenging norms of race, gender, and genre. Students will discuss how Beyoncé deconstructs musical boundaries, particularly with works like “Cowboy Carter,” which tap into the traditionally white, predominantly white genre of country music.
Brooks highlighted the lack of institutional recognition for black female artists, noting that Beyoncé’s Grammy loss highlighted the broader marginalization of black women’s contributions to music. In an interview with the Yale Daily News, Brooks commented on the tendency of awards bodies to ignore the achievements of black women: “Black women are sometimes completely marginalized from some of the highest honors and are rarely recognized as capable and worthy musicians. And be taken seriously.
Beyoncé’s lasting impact on academia and beyond: Why lessons matter today
For Brooks, Beyoncé’s music provides not only entertainment but a powerful framework for exploring Black culture, resilience and visions of the future. Her goal is for students to leave the classroom with a deeper understanding of how black women like Beyoncé have used art to elevate conversations around social justice and freedom. As Brooks says, “Looking at culture through Beyoncé, it invites us to think…art can illuminate the world we live in, nourish our spirits, and give us space to imagine better worlds and free ethics.”
