I Would Actually Sit In The Front Row Of WashU’s Course On Kanye West

El Taco8 years ago

I’ve sat through some pointless classes in college — classes that you’re only in to either satisfy a req or because you know it’s an easy A. I’ve been through worthless classes like Art Appreciation 1000, Stage Acting 1050, Business Ethics 4000, etc. — none of which I’ll ever use in the real world. But a class on Kanye West? Hold all my appointments, Cindy. I have a PhD to work on.

A new course at Washington University in St. Louis called “Politics of Kanye West: Black Genius and Sonic Aesthetics” began earlier this semester. There are 75 students in the class. Oh, there’s also a waiting list to get into it, too.

From St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

Dr. Jeffrey McCune, an associate professor in the African and African-American Studies and the Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies departments, helms this course on the rapper, producer and fashion designer.

…

“I always wanted to teach a course looking at black genius and the impossibility of black genius for the American public,” he says. “We’re always thought of as maybe being articulate or smart but not really genius.”

…

Some topics on the syllabus for the 14-week course:

• “Who is Kanye West and Why is He in the Flashing Lights?”

• “Touch the Sky, When the Aspirant Turns Genius”

• “Father Stretch My Hands, or How Hip-Hop Takes Us to Church”

• “Love Lock Down, or Hip-Hop’s Queer Love Languages”

• “I Love Kanye, or How Critique Slips Into Hate”

McCune promises there will be a full segment on “The Swift Moment,” referring to West’s onstage confrontation with pop singer Taylor Swift at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards.

Damn, son. I can’t tell you how much I’ve needed this class in my life. I mean, when Kanye went muy loco on TV and then on Twitter and then on Instagram and then at one of his concerts, I was like, “We must go deeper.” Does Kanye like the nickname Kimye? How much does Kanye love Kanye? Kanye — 2017’s Einstein? Who is Pablo?!

It’s important to note that WashU is a VERY prestigious school. It’s ranked no. 19 in the nation, which means it plays ball with the likes of the Cornells and Browns (and plays sports like a community college). The university knows what it’s doing. It’s shaping America’s youth for Kanye/Tebow 2020.

Sorry, Trump, but we’re going to need someone to lead us through this soon-to-be war with China, and Kanye’s credentials are way better. He’s been spitting fire since ‘03.

Sign me up, WashU. I’ll even consider sitting in the front row for this one..

[via St. Louis Post-Dispatch]

Image via Shutterstock