Hope University in Liverpool today announced that they will start offering an Arts Degree in studies about The Beatles. Yes that’s right – you didn’t read the sentence incorrectly – they really are offering an academic degree on the life and work of the pop band The Beatles. Alas it appears that the life & work of Cud has been cruelly overlooked again. I am not sure what qualifications are required as a pre-requisite to getting on the course, but do not fret if you are not very academic, as there are other similar (but slightly inferior) routes to take. For instance you could do an NVQ qualification in Oasis studies.
Ha Ha – I am hilarious.
Facetiousness aside, I believe it is important The Beatles should be discussed in an educational context, given the historical, cultural, artistic, sociological and musical impact of their legacy. However, I’d have thought the impact of their legacy would have been studied within an existing academic context; such as history, sociology, Cultural Studies, Art, English literature film studies or music rather than something in its own entity. Is it all part of Liverpool’s development as a mawkish theme park, whose ‘theme’ is concerned specifically with its own historical and cultural self-promotion? I certainly can’t image what sort of career would follow the attainment of a Beatles degree (at least a study of the life and work of Cud may at some point lead to financial gain if one were to find themselves at a particular quiz machine).
Although why should I be placing so much importance on the relationship between education and careerism? Sure, a theoretical subject like Theology can be a career-path to a big business. But at least there is more evidence that The Beatles actually existed in real life than God. And when you think about it, given their continuing influence on contemporary culture this makes the Beatles comparatively more relevant, significant and viable as a subject of study. Not that I am suggesting that The Beatles are bigger than Jesus Christ or anything. That would be a stupid thing to say.
No comments:
Post a Comment