Could you analyze the binary oppositions in Buffy the Vampire Slayer? Can you point out the hegemonic discourses in Hip-Hop music? Or would you prefer to wax philosophical about Harry Potter?
Students, especially students of arts or media, know that once in a blue semester the opportunity to take a class that will be the envy of all your peers will arise. For me it was an in dept examination of The Sopranos, with the requirement that the class watch the entire fourth season, that did it. Do I remember if I concluded that Tony was a modern day Machiavelli? No. Do I remember the look on my friend’s faces when I told them what I did in class? Yes.

For more interesting courses check out The Art of Argument at Berkeley, Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Arts program or criminal justice and home land security at RETS college. Universities are introducing more and more unique classes aimed at what really interests students:

Simpsons and Philosophy: University of California -Berkeley

As the longest running sitcom in the United States, The Simpsons has permeated Western culture and is one of the most recognizable programs in the world.

California’s University of Berkeley are not only taking an original step by offering the Simpson’s and Philosophy class, they are also offering it under their controversial DeCal, in which students teach their peers. Juxtaposing Nietzsche and Aristotle with Bart and Homer the course asks philosophical questions about filial relations, the family and behavior. The primary text of the course is the widely acclaimed “The Simpsons and Philosophy: The D’oh! of Homer” by William Irwin, Mark T. Conard, Aeon J. Skoble. The book is a collection of 18 essays, each deal with a different philosophical element of The Simpsons. Homer’s universal appeal and apparent lack of morality, Bart’s despicable behavior, Ned’s religious fervor and Mr. Burn’s unhappiness are but a few topics discussed.

Learning from YouTube: Pitzer College.

YouTube is perhaps more essential to college students than noodles. Ranked the 4th most popular site in the world, every college student is intricately familiar with the workings of YouTube. According to Quantcast.com, 35% which is the majority of YouTube’s traffic, comes from the 18-34 demographic with 52 percent of 18-34 year-olds sharing videos often with friends and colleagues. Up to ten hours of footage are added to YouTube every minute.

Professor Alex Juhasz at Pitzer University encourages her students to use YouTube as their primary medium for communications. Juhasz broadcasts her lectures on YouTube and expects assignments to be submitted via the website. Students can respond to their classmates and are allowed to only use online resources. Essentially a media professor, Juhasz places emphasis on pop culture and new media and many assignments focus on the importance of online media in society and what exactly online culture is.

According to Pitzer’s website this class is an innovative advancement in academia: “faculty members have experimented with posting lectures and course material online before, and some have argued that YouTube is a helpful tool for academics, but the devotion of an entire course to the Web site and the all-access pass Pitzer is providing puts the liberal arts college on another plane.”

Changing Times: The Music and Lyrics of Bob Dylan: Williamette University

The goal of this class, according to their website is to expand student’s analytical and writing skills through examination of the music and lyrics of Bob Dylan. The class description states: “the goal for this course is to help students become more skilled at critical thinking, more effective writers, and more thoughtful and articulate participants in discussion.” Each assignment and question will incorporate some element of Dylan’s work.

Taught by Ron Loftus, students are expected to be knowledgeable in the music of Bob Dylan and, according to Loftus the class will: “through reading, careful listening to his music, and engaging in critical reflection on his lyrics, we will raise pertinent questions about how artists create and what connections exist between an artist’s work and the society and times in which s/he lives.”

Students are expected to listen to over 20 of Dylan’s albums in chronological order. They also watch documentaries and can must use three primary texts to reference Dylan’s work.

Philosophy and Star Trek: Georgetown University

Star Trek has one of the most extensive fan bases of any television program. Fan and Slash Fiction originated from the relationship between Captain Kirk and Spock but soon grew exponentially, overtaking its original purpose.

Taught by Linda Wetzel, the class used Star Trek as a platform to discuss key issues of philosophy. According to Georgetown.edu: “This course is basically an introduction to certain topics in metaphysics and epistemology philosophy, centered around major philosophical questions that come up again and again in Star Trek.” The course encompasses several elements of philosophy such as existentialism and still uses literature from traditional philosophers, subverting the ideas to make them applicable to Star Trek.

Zombies in Popular Media: Columbia College, Chicago

One of the most distinctive and unique classes this course includes elements of Gothic, literature and film analysis as well as incorporating human rights topics and cultural awareness. The course offers a history of how the zombie became one of the most definitive cultural icons.

According to Columbia College’s website: “This course explores the history, significance, and representation of the zombie as a figure in horror and fantasy texts. Instruction follows an intense schedule, using critical theory and source media (literature, comics, and films) to spur discussion and exploration of the figure’s many incarnations. Daily assignments focus on reflection and commentary, while final projects foster thoughtful connections between student disciplines and the figure of the zombie.”

Zap, Pow, Bang Pop Lit: Ryerson University The purpose of this class is to introduce students to the various genres of writing that have been popular at different times and in different cultures. According to Ryerson’s website: “Students will learn central concepts and terminology in the study of popular writing and culture, and they will analyze the impact that cultural and political issues have had not only on what works became popular but also on the very notion of “the popular” itself.”

Course topics include Gothic Fiction, Forms of the Fantastic and Poetry. Students will examine various genres of popular literature from comic books to Frankenstein.

The Science of Harry Potter: Frostburg State University

This college course is not a veiled Harry Potter fan club or even a Quidditch discussion forum. It is physics class that examines the use of magic in Harry Potter and attempts to explain the magical elements through Science. Founded by FSU Physics Professor George Plitnik, the course has received widespread media attention.

According to the Frostburg State University website The Science of Harry Potter “entails an overview of the scientific method as employed in the physical sciences and a critical examination of the Harry Potter books to assess the possible science behind the fantasy.”

However this is not the only University to add Harry Potter to their syllabus. Professors have begun teaching Harry Potter in modern literature classes. Danielle Tumminio has added “Christian Theology and Harry Potter” to the Yale syllabus, which attracted 79 applicants for the 18 course places. Cat Terrell, a student in Tumminio’s course at Yale, said regardless of the book’s literary merit they have aided her understanding of topics such as theology and religion: “If somebody says this isn’t worth a Yale class, I would say if we were just reading the Harry Potter books for their literary merit … I would probably agree with them. [But] the lens of the Harry Potter books actually makes theology … easier to understand,” she said. “It’s amazing how many connections you can draw between the theology that we’re reading outside of class and the Harry Potter that we’ve known for 10 years.”

Arguing with Judge Judy: Popular ‘Logic’ on TV Judge Shows: University of California -Berkeley

Taught by Professor Daniel F. Melia this course examines the often illogical and perverse answers litigants use to argue with the figure of authority. This course stems from the increasing popularity of the TV judge format.

Berkeleys website points out that the course is not, in any way, related to law. It encourages students who are interested in logical reasoning, debate and media to apply for this course. The website states: “The seminar will be concerned with identifying such apparently popular logical fallacies on Judge Judy and The People’s Court and discussing why such strategies are so widespread.”

For information on more interesting colleges courses check out top-colleges.com.