Mardi Gras, a celebration commonly regarded as one big mess of a party from an outsider’s perspective, is now under the analysis of students in The Sociology of Mardi Gras course.

Most consider Mardi Gras as the celebration the media depicts as “one big party, a bunch of beads and boobs,” said Kevin Zansler, mass communication junior and one of the first students to sign up for The Sociology of Mardi Gras.

“I’ve only missed one Mardi Gras in my life. I love it. Every year it’s still fun; there’s something about it.”Zansler said.

This is the first semester that the course is being offered. Sue Mennino, chairwoman of the sociology department, is the creator and professor of this new course.

Mennino said she aims to show that New Orleans’ carnival season is more than just a party. Through the use of readings, films, interviews and discussions, she said she hopes to provide students the tools needed to view New Orleans sociologically and to help them realize that social forces have power to affect society.

“Try to explain Mardi Gras to people. It’s impossible,” Mennino said. “Mardi Gras is more than what you think you see. One of the books we’re reading starts off with saying Mardi Gras is a spirit and it is so important to the culture here, but it doesn’t work anywhere else.”

Recently, the class viewed a film that displayed various aspects of Mardi Gras, such as debutante balls, which are commonly overlooked by outsiders.

Students are constantly involved in class discussions about the material.

The course is seminar-based and is made up of students from different majors with varying experiences studying sociology and New Orleans culture.

When thinking of how to advertise the new course, Meninno said her first thought was putting out king cake to attract students, but then realized there was no need.

“It filled up. Originally we had the limit of 30, like we typically do, and it filled up within hours … then raised the limit to 40, and even then many were wait-listed,” Mennino said.

With the New Orleans minor and classes such as The Sociology of Mardi Gras, students and professors are working to debunk stereotypical beliefs related to the city, Mennino said. She said that she hopes word will get out that New Orleans is more than just a city of debauchery and is instead one of rich history and culture.

Leslie Gamboni can be reached at [email protected]