‘Beyoncé in Culture’ Online Course: 6-Lesson Online Course with Elizabeth Amisu
This is an online academic course on the art, performance and representation of entertainer Beyoncé Knowles. Focusing on Beyoncé’s image of mystique and the selling power of sexuality in culture, this course brings in new perspectives on Beyoncé’s place in the history of black femininity and black feminism, taking into context key figures in the Western fetishization of black women, such as Saartjie (Sara) Baartman (Hottentot Venus) and Josephine Baker.
This course in 20 words: Beyoncé, History, Passion, Inspiring, Expert-led, Clear, Focused, Ideas-based, Interpretive, Video, Music, Women, Sexuality, Adaptable, Innovative, Fresh, Fascinating, Independent, Accessible, Gender
Course Overview
- Well-structured and academically rigorous.
- Covers historical, feminist, and cultural perspectives on Beyoncé.
- Encourages critical thinking and independent research.
- Provides multi-modal learning (videos, readings, assignments).
- 8 modules of study
- Self-directed viewing & personal note-taking
- Certificate of Completion
- English
Handcrafted Course Delivery
- Mini-Lecture Notes
- Handcrafted guides and prompt questions
- Optional extended viewing/reading for advanced learners
Who is this course for?
- Beyoncé Superfans
- Pop Culture Scholars
- Independent Learners
Features
- Instant delivery
- Travel & examination-free
- Lifetime access
Certification Details
- Title: Certified Beyoncé in Culture Expert
- Issued By: Online Arts Education & Writing Eliza
- Recognition: A paraprofessional certification demonstrating expertise in pop culture, music analysis, and gender studies.
- Use Cases: Suitable for researchers, writers, educators, content creators, and cultural analysts.
About the Course
It is no secret that Beyoncé is an international superstar. Her commercial success and phenomenal talent have made her a worldwide celebrity. Millions of people flock to watch her perform in sell-out tours and she has become a lucrative powerhouse in the recording industry. Now that Beyoncé’s work has become more overtly political, her unique brand of black feminism has been perceived as threatening. This course investigates exactly why that is, answering questions like…
Is Beyoncé a figure of black female empowerment?
Where does Beyoncé fit in the wider history of black female visibility?
What does Beyoncé mean to us now in a digital, post-Civil Rights and post-feminist age?
What does Beyonce’s BET Awards (2016) performance tell us about American culture?
How does Cowboy Carter challenge mainstream perceptions of country music?
The course begins with the historical background of black female representation, starting in the early sixteenth century and the rise of the trans-Atlantic slave trade and bringing comparisons of Beyoncé and her black female historical sisters right through the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries to the present day. We then move on to Beyoncé’s role as a doting wife and mother and how this contradicts tired notions which separate female sexuality from motherhood before taking a brief overlook of Beyoncé’s video artistry and her 2016 BET Performance. Now expanded since its first iteration in 2016, this course includes in-depth analyses of Beyoncé’s recent works, Renaissance and Cowboy Carter, exploring themes such as Afrofuturism, house music, queer culture, and the reclamation of Black influence in country music. Two of the sessions allow students to take on an academic or creative project (or video essay) to conclude and summarise their learning.
About Your Expert Teacher, Elizabeth Amisu
Elizabeth holds a first-class B.A., an M.A. from King’s College London, and a PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education). She is a professional teacher, online course developer, academic author, journal editor and podcaster.
Elizabeth offers deep, structured, and research-backed courses that turn fans into experts and thinkers into thought leaders. Elizabeth’s courses offer a rare blend of academic rigour, pop culture analysis, and emotional storytelling. They bridge the gap between academia and entertainment, making complex topics accessible and engaging. They focus on legendary figures and storytelling, appealing to both intellect and emotion.
Course Instructor
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‘Beyoncé in Culture’ Online Course
This free introduction gives an overview of the resources which will be needed for the next six weeks and gives the learner a week to gather all their resources and acquaint themselves with the source material.
Notebooks can be powerful tools for learning and change. This week also introduces your ‘Beyoncé in Culture’ Notebook, and introduces the first set of key readings for you to explore your thoughts and ideas around Beyoncé, and the complex history around Western/European fascinations around the black female body.
This week brings new comparisons of Beyoncé and her black female historical sisters right through the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries to the present day. The focus of this session is Sara Baartman, also known as Hottentot Venus.
In the penultimate week we take Beyoncé’s 2016 BET Performance of ‘Freedom’ as a case study for how she is redefining her black female representation. Going through the performance in detail we draw new conclusions on Beyoncé’s influential, musical and visual presentation.
Endings are so often beginnings of something newer and more powerful. This final session enables learners to take on a creative project or video essay to conclude and summarize their learning.
