AMST 2470

Honestly the best class offered at UVA. I'm a rising 4th year and have taken a wide array of classes in many different departments, but this one was the best experience of them all. Professor Higginbotham is the best. There is no other way to describe her other than that. A shit ton of students apply to this class (it is offered every other Spring semester), so write a decent enrollment requests and just pray that you get in. It is also targeted towards first and second years but a small number of upperclassmen years managed to get in, so you all have a chance. There is a good amount of reading and writing, and you should actually do the readings because class participation is a huge part of the grade and knowledge of the readings is key in order to do well. I wish you all the best of luck when submitting your course enrollment requests, and those who make it are in for quite the journey.

Will start by saying this is bar and none one of the best if not THE best courses offered at UVA. If you have any ability to take it, you should.

Some notes: It was an application based class this semester, and was tough to get into. Take time on your app. so you can get in.
Also, it is taught in the Spring bi-annually (the next time it will be taught is Spring 2019).

Now for the tangibles. First, the professor is amazing. She is hilarious, relatable, brilliant, and cares about this class so much. She facilitated some of the most interesting, funny, and dramatic discussions I have ever been a part of on... what other than... Disney movies. The Disney you once knew as a kid is put on a pedestal from questioning at all angles, and because the class is small, it is interesting to see where each student in the class comes from in looking at the films and readings. For example, we spent like an hour questioning if Mulan deserves to be a Disney princess, and if so why? There were some good answers, but throughout, it felt like a family discussion (in the best possible way) with people taking different sides and opinions. I will say, if you are not much of a talker, you probably won't enjoy this class as much. Also a good amount of reading and writing, but nothing soul-crushing.

All told, this is a rare opportunity with a topic everyone can enjoy, and overall taught me a lot. Will remember this class forever.