Selena's Life and Legacy Will Be Taught in San Diego University This 2020

(Photo : flickr.com)

Students of San Diego State University will have the opportunity to explore the legacy of Tejano music icon Selena Quintanilla and her representation in media starting this spring of 2020, according to CNN.

Nathian Rodriguez, SDSU's School of Journalism and Media Studies assistant professor was inspired to create a class called, "JMS 496: Selena and Latinx Media Representation" dedicated to the music icon due to her influence and relevance in Latinx culture. Raised in San Antonio, Texas, Rodriguez grew up listening to Selena's songs and like the late singer, he describes himself as having a dual identity between Spanish and English and being Mexican-American.

Rodriguez, 37, noted that as he progressed in his academic and professional career, he noticed the lack of classes specifically focus on Latino identity.

"It was either all Chicano, all Latin American or all Texan so this was an opportunity to create a class that uses a celebrity like Selena to better explain what is happening across the media spectrum with Latinx representation," he added.

Rodriguez noted that the class won't be a traditional classroom lecture type. Students enrolled in the course will have the opportunity utilize one of SDSU's Learning Research Studios to explore all facets of Selena's identity, not just her life and music and legacy but also other representations and misrepresentations of Latinx individuals across the spectrum.

According to the professor, students will first listen to Selena's music and rendition of her songs as well as her influence to other artists' works such as that of Puerto Rican-Filipino singer Bruno Mars and Afro-Latina rapper Cardi B.

It was previously revealed by Cardi B that Selena was the inspiration for her outfit in the music video of "Please Me" with Bruno Mars, released earlier this year. They will also dissect the upcoming Netflix scripted series based on the singer's life. Later on, they will work to identify minority stereotypes alongside their own personal stories and come up with ways to improve Latino representation once they go into the job field.

Rodriguez said the course is a big step for the School of Journalism and Media Studies in terms of representation since the campus itself has a diverse student body.

"San Diego State University, like many universities across the southern border, is a Hispanic Serving Institution," Rodriguez said adding that he wants the students to know that the university does not count them as numbers but is looking at ways to further celebrate this diversity by creating content that is going to serve them.

When the award-winning artist was murdered by the president of her fans club in 1995 at the height of her career, it brought shock and grief to the world.

But her early passing was not in vain because decades later, her fans continue to celebrate her life and she has become even more popular. Various platforms and entities immortalized her with their products and works that go beyond music. In 1997, the biographical film "Selena" starring Jennifer Lopez became a cult classic for fans.

Twenty years later, she was also honored with a star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Meanwhile, brands like MAC Cosmetics and Forever 21 recently launched product lines named after her. On 2020, Netflix will also release a series as a tribute to the singer starring Christian Serratos.