Buzz
Universities are often regarded as centers of advanced education. In recent years, many colleges have restructured their programs to include some truly unconventional courses. While some of these courses may have a hint of intellectual depth, others are simply bizarre. This list might make you reconsider whether that beer pong tournament your child joined is really such a bad idea after all. ?
10. The Unbearable Whiteness of Barbie
A required course for some freshmen at Occidental College, 'The Unbearable Whiteness of Barbie—Race and Popular Culture in the United States,' examines how 'scientific racism has influenced the creation of Barbie.' Elizabeth Chin, the course instructor, cautions students that this is no easy class. With readings from authors like Sandra Cisneros to Karl Marx, the course includes rigorous academic material. However, a class that labels Barbie's whiteness as 'unbearable' appears to lack scientific grounding. One can't help but wonder if this course was available when a certain former president, Barack Obama, was a student at this West Coast college.
9. The Theology of Eating
Given the significant role eating plays in daily life, Loyola College decided to explore the theological connections between God and food. This course delves into the 'complex religious dimensions of eating,' using texts to examine dining etiquette within a religious framework. While the evolution debate remains unresolved, it's clear that a balanced diet is essential. If free meals are included, this course might just help students digest the deeper meanings of food theology.
8. Stupidity
Occidental College appears once more on this list, this time for offering a course on stupidity. Naturally, the term refers to the course title and not the students' intellect. The class draws on works by Friedrich Nietzsche and Gilles Deleuze, among others, to argue that ‘stupidity is neither ignorance nor a lack of intelligence, but rather a counterpart to knowledge and a facet of normalcy, the shadow of intelligence rather than its opposite.’ Only those who delve into it can truly understand.
7. The Joy of Garbage
Despite its seemingly trivial subject, Virginia Matzek of Santa Clara University aims to transform your perception of garbage. Designed as a ‘science class for non-science majors,’ The Joy of Garbage is a rigorous course requiring research and data analysis. Questions like “What distinguishes ‘garbage,’ ‘discard,’ and ‘waste’?” and “What might be a better title for this course?” are explored. Perhaps ‘The Joy of Wasting Time’ would be fitting?
6. The Art of Sin and the Sin of Art
The Rhode Island School of Design draws creative minds from across the nation, but it’s hard to imagine some of them wanting to ‘lust with the saints and burn with the sinners.’ Yet, for those who take up the challenge, this course offers a semester-long exploration of the moral complexities in the works of both classical and contemporary artists. Given RISD’s artistic reputation, it’s no surprise that this course and its instructor have garnered a devoted following. After all, different strokes for different folks.
5. Philosophy and Star Trek
At Georgetown University, philosophy students delve into the works of Aristotle, Kant, and other great thinkers, all under the guise of exploring the philosophical themes in Star Trek. This course introduces students to metaphysics and epistemology while examining the profound philosophical questions raised by the iconic sci-fi series. It’s yet another example of how educators have found innovative ways to teach concepts that were once unimaginable.
4. Zombies! The Living Dead in Literature, Film, and Culture
The American South remains a stronghold of conservatism and evangelism, yet that hasn’t stopped them from delving into the world of zombies. Sean Hoade, an English professor at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, deserves credit for this groundbreaking course, which draws connections between American consumer habits and zombie behavior. His assertion that ‘zombies serve as a reflection of Americans, not only in how we view ourselves but also in how the world perceived America during the George W. Bush era: as a wandering, insatiable force transforming its victims into mindless beings like itself’ might seem exaggerated, but his students don’t seem to mind.
3. The Phallus
Occidental College has determined that, in the course of human development, it is essential for students to explore the ‘significance of the phallus’ and its ‘connection to masculinity, femininity, genitalia, and fetishism.’ Given the phallus’s central role in psychoanalytic theories of gender and sexuality, this course is a cornerstone of the Intercultural and Queer program. All this comes at a cost of approximately four thousand five hundred dollars.
2. The Art of Walking
While The Art of Walking may appear trivial to some, Dr. Ken Keffer, a Professor of Modern Languages at Centre College in Kentucky, takes it seriously. His class focuses on understanding ‘intelligible and sensual design in both inner and outer nature,’ a concept first introduced by Immanuel Kant. In addition to regular walks with his students to nearby locations like the Perryville Battlefield, Dr. Keffer assigns independent walking projects to help students grasp the nuances of walking. Now, where exactly is this college located again?
1. Maple Syrup: The Real Thing
Students who choose to attend Alfred University, nestled in the picturesque region of Western New York, might find themselves immersed in a course exploring the intricacies of maple syrup production. The only requirement is a ‘readiness to endure long hours in snow, cold, and mud.’ The course delves into the production methods pioneered by Native Americans, which have evolved over time, and includes visits to local producers, restaurants, and festivals to enhance learning. With this course on their resume, students can easily secure jobs—it’s the real deal!
