Atlanta’s prestigious Emory University is debuting an unexpected class this semester, and it’s got us excited for classes all over again! As a part of Emory’s Latinx Studies Initiative, Emory is launching LACS 385: Special Topics: Puerto Rico and Bad Bunny.
What is Emory’s Bad Bunny course about?
If you’re thinking ‘what could this class possibly be about?’ then you’re probably not alone. But this Bad Bunny class is actually a super cool way to learn about Puerto Rican culture.
The course description from Emory’s website is:
In this course, Bad Bunny’s recent album Debí Tirar Más Fotos will be our guide as we learn about the history of Puerto Rico. This course is interdisciplinary and will focus on both Bad Bunny’s cultural and artistic productions as well as the political and socioeconomic forces from which Bad Bunny emerges. Particular emphasis will be placed on the last 30 years of US colonial rule in Puerto Rico and resistance movements. Hierarchies of race, gender, sexuality, the urban/rural and class will ground our explorations of: colonization & racio-colonial capitalism, sovereignty, nationhood, migration & diaspora, debt, disaster, mutual aid, tourism, protest, and music (reggeatón).
Basically, Bad Bunny’s music will guide the class through the history of Puerto Rico in the last three decades.
Is Bad Bunny the only singer on the syllabus?
Actually, no. The class details that there will be recent work by
- Jorell Meléndez Badillo
- Yomaira Figueroa
- Marisol Lebrón
- Rocío Zambrana
- Yarimar Bonilla
- Hilda Lloréns
- Petra Rivera-Rideau
- Michelle Rosario
- Jose Atiles
And many other artists.
Weekly assignments for students taking this course include readings, podcasts and analyzing songs. Knowledge of Spanish is not required to take this course. The class is taught by Prof. Taína Figueroa