Politics 195. Religious Studies 113. English and Textual Studies 350. These all sound like pretty average course names, but when you look further, you might be surprised to see what you will find.
A now common theme in courses from community colleges to Harvard University sings the same tune: studies of celebrities.
For example, Politics 195 is actually “Walk Tall: Beauty, Meaning and Politics in the Lyrics of Bruce Springsteen” available at New York State University at Potsdam.
Religious Studies 113 translates to the University of Pennsylvania’s course simply titled, “Marvin Gaye.”
And here’s the kicker: if you enroll in English and Textual Studies 350 at Syracuse University, you are actually taking “Hip-Hop Eshu,” a course studying Lil’ Kim.
Some of these could be very beneficial, and others might exist as electives for students who need to fill in a few gaps before they can graduate.
According to MTV.com/news, Interdisciplinary 27 at Calvin College is subtitled “Kicking at the Darkness: Social Justice, Spiritual Longing and U2.” The site explains that the description of this class delves into Bono’s lyrics. The students study how the band tackled such monumental issues as AIDS, poverty and social inequality. This could be an informational and interesting class to take and would do many people much good.
However, when you start crossing into “Rock Flashpoints” – or University Honors Program 351F – offered at Southern Illinois University, it gets a little too much off the beaten path. According to MTV.com, the course studies the controversial moments in rock including the infamous Milli Vanilli lip-synching scandal. It is very hard to imagine how this would benefit anyone’s life. Sure, it might be interesting and a useful “filler” course, but hopefully, this would not be a requirement for any degree, or even worse, a prerequisite.
It seems like professors are just creating courses that deal with their hobbies. I must wonder whether these classes are necessary to anyone’s extremely expensive degree, or if we are just paying to read lyrics and watch news clips for a semester.
If the latter is the case, whoever created these course names really has a way with words. Anyone that can get Humanities 041 out of “Perfectly Frank: A Celebration of the Music of Frank Sinatra” (offered at Brookdale Community College) has my vote for “Title Fluffer” of the Year.
Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with discussing the legend, but there was a tale of one man who drove more than 500 miles to take this course three days a week.
I’m going to assume he was not pursuing a degree and was just interested in Sinatra; however, for those of us paying out of pocket, loan or scholarship for every class in which we enroll, studying Frank Sinatra is probably the last thing we can afford.
It boils down to what you are willing to pay for. Don’t be fooled if you enroll in Berklee College of Music and opt for a class titled Contemporary Writing 171.
You are actually learning how to get music listeners to get up and dance with inspirations from James Brown. What is the class’ alternate title? Groove Writing.
Sounds like a good time, but I can barely afford the classes I am required to take, so you can count me out.
Common theme seen in college courses across U.S.
Published: Friday, December 5, 2008
Updated: Friday, December 5, 2008
These courses are obviously time wasters no matter how fun they may be. However, the best way to destroy all that is good about some thing you love is to take a course on it here. Kind of like the adage "Don't learn too much about your Heroes, you will be dissappointed." Of course there are so many pointless general education classes here it isn't even funny. I took survey of art history and all i got was more debt for wasting my time. Of course the art department made out like bandits, or rather highway/higher-ed robbers. I doubt the art department would even exist if it wern't for that class.
MTV rated the milli-vanilli and music industry gaffs class so low is because it can't have you reazlize that they are selling you so much trash and you are eating it up. Empty-V indeed.