Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
In 2010, Professor Kevin Allred created the university course "Politicizing Beyonc " to both wide acclaim and controversy. He outlines his pedagogical philosophy in Ain't I a Diva?, exploring what it means to build a syllabus around a celebrity. Topics range from a capitalist critique of "Run the World (Girls)" to the politics of self-care found in "Flawless"; Beyonc 's art is read alongside black feminist thinkers including Kimberl Crenshaw, Octavia Butler, and Sojourner Truth. Combining analysis with classroom anecdotes, Allred attests that pop culture is so much more than a guilty pleasure, it's an access point--for education, entertainment, critical inquiry, and politics.