Bad Bunny is headed to college, but not as a student. This fall, Emory University in Atlanta is offering a class centered on the Puerto Rican superstar.
The class falls under Emory’s Latinx Studies Initiative and will use the 31-year-old artist’s most recent studio album as its foundation. Weekly assignments include readings, podcasts and song analysis.
A wider cultural lens
While Bad Bunny’s popularity may draw students in, the course is also designed to explore themes like colonialism, race and the work of other Puerto Rican artists.
Emory is not alone. Yale University is offering a similar class this fall titled “Bad Bunny: Musical Aesthetics and Politics.” The course will examine Spanish-speaking Caribbean culture and politics, with Bad Bunny serving as a gateway to those conversations.
Professor Albert Laguna, who will teach the class, told Yale Daily News he found inspiration for the course while walking around New Orleans.
“I was taken by how every song opens up avenues of exploration in relation to topics that are important to me,” Laguna said.
He hopes his students will learn to appreciate Bad Bunny’s musical and personal choices.
Bad Bunny’s global reach
The timing aligns with a monumental year for the artist. He is performing a weeks-long residency in Puerto Rico, with 30 sold-out shows expected to generate a $200 million economic impact, according to the island’s promotional agency.
Bad Bunny has also made history abroad. He recently became the first Latin act to sell out stadiums in Italy and Poland, according to promoter Live Nation.
Despite his global reach, the artist has no immediate plans to tour in the United States. He recently told Variety it was unnecessary to create a U.S. tour or produce a concert film similar to Beyoncé and Taylor Swift.
Some observers believe his absence stems from political reasons. Bad Bunny has been outspoken in his criticism of ICE deportations and broader U.S. immigration policies. His stance, combined with his support for former Vice President Kamala Harris, has fueled speculation that his refusal to tour stateside is partly a protest.
A growing academic trend
Other universities have experimented with pop star-focused classes. Yale previously offered a course centered on Beyoncé’s music and cultural influence. In 2022, New York University launched a Taylor Swift class that filled quickly and built a long waitlist. Emory also offered a similar pop culture class last year.
Universities say these courses highlight the relevance of music and pop culture while tackling larger topics like identity, race and politics. At the same time, they can boost enrollment in programs such as media and cultural studies, which do not always draw large numbers.
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Author: Devin Pavlou
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