BMET 27A32 - From Shakespeare to Beyoncé: Cultural Hierarchy in America

This seminar examines the emergence and evolution of cultural hierarchy in America. From the relatively shared public

culture of the 19th century to the development of lowbrow, middlebrow, and highbrow categories, how did these

divisions – affecting theater, museums, libraries, and music – take hold in the United States? How have they evolved in

the 20th and 21st centuries?

From popular Shakespeare performed in vaudeville theaters to Beyoncé’s performance at Barack Obama’s inauguration,

this course explores how works are received and interpreted, demonstrating that the categories we use to describe

culture may evolve. Cultural boundaries, in fact, are more permeable than immutable.

Classes are organized as methodological workshops in which students engage directly with a variety of primary sources,

including academic articles, press materials, archival documents, political speeches, videos, and musical performances.

Through hands-on analysis, guided discussions, and group work, students will reflect on historically contextualizing and

interpreting materials, while developing their research and analytical methodology, ultimately gaining a critical

perspective on the subject.