Course Schedule - Fall Semester 2026

     

Meeting location information can now be found on student schedules in ESTHER (for students) or on the Course Roster in ESTHER (for faculty and instructors).
Additional information available here.

COLL 106 001 (CRN: 16363)

IDENTITY AND POLITICS IN MLP

Long Title: FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC: ETHICS, IDENTITY, AND POLITICS IN MY LITTLE PONY (WIESS)
Department: College Courses
Instructors:
Zimmerman, Carissa
Yee, Amanda
Venepally, Janaki
Meeting: 6:00PM - 6:50PM T (24-AUG-2026 - 4-DEC-2026) 
Part of Term: Full Term - No WL Purge
Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
Course Type: Seminar
Language of Instruction: Taught in English
Method of Instruction: Face to Face
Credit Hours: 1
Course Syllabus:
Course Materials: Rice Campus Store
 
Restrictions:
Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s):
Undergraduate Professional
Visiting Undergraduate
Undergraduate
Section Max Enrollment: 19
Section Enrolled: 19
Waitlisted: 6 (Max 99) 
Current members of the waitlist have priority for available seats.
Enrollment data as of: 26-APR-2026 9:17AM
 
Additional Fees: None
 
Final Exam: No Final Exam
 
Description: In 1981, Hasbro launched a worldwide phenomenon with My Little Pony dolls. Soon after, My Little Pony movies, shows, and toy lines completely revolutionized the children’s entertainment industry. In 2010, Hasbro created the animated TV series My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, which unexpectedly diversified My Little Pony’s fanbase and brought it to a broader audience. In doing so, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic has cemented itself as a mainstream show adorned with mass appeal, a religious fanbase, and complex storylines. In this course, students will examine the animated television series My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic as a culturally and historically relevant media text. With the exploration of selected episodes, characters, and narrative arcs, the course will prompt students to analyze themes of class, race, sexuality, political governance, disability, and more. Furthermore, this course will examine the ethical and pedagogical implications of the show’s messaging for its young, impressionable audience. This course also seeks to question how the show’s fanbase influenced its trajectory and social legacy. The course will be primarily discussion-based, with students expected to view assigned episodes before class and actively participate in critical dialogue.