Because we can’t take the Nicki Minaj class…

A few days ago, Berkeley announced that it will be offering a class entitled “Nicki Minaj: The Black Barbie Femmecee & Hip Hop Feminisms.” To put it simply, I am jealous. I want to take the Nicki Minaj class. So, to quell my jealousy, I have come up with eight pop culture-based classes that I think Barnard/Columbia should offer. 

1. Survivor as Social Microcosm

Survivor’s premise, dump around 20 people on an island and make them vote each other off, can’t help but illuminate the social structures inherent to American society at large. And, given its longevity (it premiered in 2000 and is still on air), Survivor provides a glimpse into how these social structures have evolved over the past twenty years. 

2. Kim Kardashian: The First Influencer

I want a nuanced investigation into how Kim cultivated and monetized her image, and why it worked. I also want to explore how her success laid the framework for a culture of self-branding, and ultimately influencing. 

3. Lana Del Rey & the “American Dream”

On what level does Lana Del Rey’s distinctly American aesthetic appeal to American fans? Does it align, modify, or reject the “American dream”? 

4. Stranger Things & 80s Nostalgia

WHY DO WE IDEALIZE THE 80s???? 

5. From The Sopranos to Succession: The Evolution of the American Family 

I’ve read many a review comparing The Sopranos and Succession but have yet to encounter a thorough examination of the Sopranos vs the Roys. I think that it would be interesting to investigate how family is portrayed against two very distinct yet equally American backdrops.  

6. From The Mary Tyler Moore Show to The Office: The Evolution of the Workplace 

Similarly, I would love to explore how the workplace is portrayed (via the sitcom) across time periods. 

7. Anatomy of the Marvel Superhero

I want to dissect Captain America, Ironman, etc., and compare them to heroes across history. How has our definition of a hero changed and how has it stayed the same? 

8. Katniss Everdeen & the Dystopian Hero

When we were growing up, female-lead dystopian novels like The Hunger Games dominated YA fiction. As a result, ballsy female heroes like Katniss Everdeen became our role models. What sparked this sudden surge of Katniss Everdeen-like figures? How do such figures revamp the classic “Marvel superhero?” 

Nicki Minaj via Bwarchives