|
When I saw a tweet about history students creating a playlist for a course called “Rap, Reagan and the 1980s,” I was immediately intrigued. After all, I not only grew up during the era of “Reaganomics” but also used to spin records as a hip-hop DJ from the mid-1980s to early 1990s – considered the “golden age” of hip-hop.
I was a huge fan of politically conscious rap artists, such as Chuck D, KRS-One and Ice T, to name a few. The course, taught by Amherst College history professor Stefan Bradley, reminded me of how many rappers used to take Reagan to task for what happened under his watch. What better way, I thought, to teach today’s college students about the 40th president, who was known as “The Great Communicator,” than through the lyrics of some great communicators in their
own right – those early rappers from hip-hop’s golden age?
The course also gave me another idea: Why not start a series to feature college courses that take an unusual approach to education? Thus began “Unusual Courses,” a new occasional series at The Conversation U.S. that makes its debut today. Bradley was the spark for this series, so it’s fitting that his course be featured first. But it won’t be the last. Be sure to keep an eye out for more stories about some of the most fascinating courses currently being taught in America’s colleges and universities.
Also today:
|
|
Jamaal Abdul-Alim
Education Editor
|
|
Numerous rap songs criticize the Reagan administration for its complicity in the illicit drug trade.
Wally McNamee/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images
Stefan M. Bradley, Amherst College
Ronald Reagan may have been known as ‘The Great Communicator,’ but rap artists don’t view his legacy through such rose-colored glasses. A professor of Black studies and history takes a closer look.
|
Science + Technology
|
-
John C. Besley, Michigan State University
It’s tempting to focus on the minority of Americans who hold negative views about scientists. But blaming others for their lack of trust won’t build the relationships that can boost trust.
-
Vivian Lam, The Conversation
Despite technological advancements, many challenges remain in getting a drug from lab to pharmacy shelf. Reframing what is a 'medicine' could expand treatment options for researchers and patients.
|
|
Politics + Society
|
-
Karen Adams, Arizona State University
Supporters and volunteers love them. But it’s difficult for political scientists to determine whether they even influence the outcome of elections, since no two campaigns or election cycles are alike.
-
Jan Leighley, American University School of Public Affairs
Americans’ political affiliations and views on key issues vary a lot by age. When fewer young people vote, winning candidates and policies may not reflect their views.
-
Hannibal Travis, Florida International University
Is it unfair to make money from works that borrow from copyrighted work?
|
|
Economy + Business
|
-
Ivis García, Texas A&M University
Within two weeks of Hurricane Fiona, FEMA had accepted most Puerto Rican housing aid applications. Nearly all those early approvals cover only $700 in assistance and won’t pay the tab for rebuilding.
|
|
Environment + Energy
|
-
Tara Miller, Boston University; Abe Miller-Rushing, National Park Service; Richard B. Primack, Boston University
Journals, museum collections and other historical sources can provide valuable data for modern ecological studies. But just because a source is old doesn’t make it useful.
|
|
Health + Medicine
|
-
Jennifer Girotto, University of Connecticut
Tens of thousands of children have tested positive for respiratory syncytial virus in the last months in what is the largest outbreak of the virus in recent years.
|
|
Education
|
-
Joshua Childs, University of Texas at Austin
The numbers of students missing 15 days or more of school in a given year is on the rise in the US. Evidence shows certain approaches can get kids back in school and help them stay in class.
|
|
From our sponsor |
|---|
|
We are experimenting with underwriting messages from select like-minded organizations:
|
|
FIELD STUDIO offers online classes for academics who would like to learn to write more vividly within their academic writing: books, articles, and essays. In the 5-week class "Creatively," ($795) starting this January, you will learn how to more richly write scenes from your fieldwork with a fiction and creative-nonfiction writer, and consider sentence structure and image with a poet. You’ll also consider how to enact theory within lyrical and narrative writing. Ultimately, you will bring these techniques into your own academic writing to both move your readers and reach a broader audience.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
|
