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dtmfadvice t1_irwitsp wrote

In this thread: nobody who understands what comparative literature or music theory is, or why a professor might choose a catchy topic for a serious course.

You can study a pop culture phenomenon. What does it say about our society that she's so popular? What sociological and economic circumstances shaped her career? How does the music industry function financially and culturally? How do fandoms relate to political movements? What technological systems are used in her specific productions? Where does this moment fit into the story of popular music over the past century?

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AhRedditAhHumanity t1_irz19ii wrote

As far as I know, this started in the late 90s with courses on Kurt Cobain and one on Keanu Reeves. This is the same thing- cultural touchstones as allegories for and fractal embodiments of larger cultural movements and issues. Totally legit.

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bretstrings t1_irx3wrf wrote

A whole course about a single artist is dumb.

You can do all the things you mentioned without just focusing on one artist.

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dtmfadvice t1_irx5mx0 wrote

That's just the hook to get your attention, which it clearly did. She's the entry point for the concepts and research skills that the students engage with in the course.

Merely studying literary theory is VERY dry. Applying literary theory to a pop star helps you understand both the theory and the world around you. It makes scholarship relevant.

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praguepride t1_irzandu wrote

Grad school is about deep diving into narrow topics. By that point you have already done the broad analysis and now it is time to actuallt start moving the needle.

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