A People’s History of Beyoncé: Stardom and Standom in the 21st Century

A dialogue with Jason King, Director of Global Studies, Director of Writing History and Emergent Media Studies, Associate Professor, The Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, NYU

Beyoncé Knowles has managed to redefine global culture in the 21st century through her music, videos, films, tours and entrepreneurial ventures. Her cultural power, though, has as much to do with her relationship to her fans as it does to her record sales and awards. A People’s History of Beyoncé rethinks the official histories of global pop from the point of view of the people who help create and sustain stardom. It will shed light on the rise of “standom” — a kind of loyalty beyond reason in which celebrity icons are granted the status of unimpeachable deities — and how this complex and dense icon worship speaks volumes about the turbulent political moment we currently find ourselves in.