Focusing on Gaga is a positive way for the professor to encourage students to engage with sociological subject matter. Lady Gaga is a unique figure in society, and, since the point of the course is to study how people become famous, it makes sense to examine her trajectory. Of course, the professor and students should keep in mind that this is a sociology class, and thus Gaga should be taken as a case study. The instructor would do well to refrain from evangelizing the star, instead treating her in an appropriately academic manner.
We hope that Professor Deflem will succeed at translating his infatuation for Lady Gaga into a thoughtful exploration of how she became famous, ideally instilling in students an interest in studying more about human behavior. Since our culture today tends to fixate on celebrities, the study of fame as a phenomenon is certainly a relevant endeavor. For those who assume the course will be simple because of the title, the fact that it has a prerequisite suggests otherwise. The professor has demonstrated through his life choices that he feels inspired by the material he will be teaching, and we believe students will benefit from his personal interest.
Ultimately, “Lady Gaga and the Sociology of Fame” has the potential to be a unique course—the kind of class that students will be excited about out of a genuine interest in the subject matter. We encourage professors to bring their passions into the academic arena more frequently, for the benefit of students.
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