Flinders University Has Stranger Things Happen
As fans and I prepare to binge the new season of Stranger Things, Season 5. The Flinders University is flipping the script, incorporating the cult Netflix phenomenon into its teaching curriculum.
Stranger Things comes to Flinders University!
In a global first, Flinders University has integrated the series into its Diploma in Digital Content Creation, providing students with hands-on experience in storytelling, production and cross-platform strategy.
Why now? With Stranger Things Season 5 set to release on November 27 and set to overtake global conversation, this initiative taps into a cultural moment to teach future creators how to craft content that resonates with audiences worldwide.
What does this mean for students?
Students will explore digital storytelling, production, and strategy through the Stranger Things’ signature themes: suspense, nostalgia, and innovation.
“They say universities should follow tradition. We say they should lead culture,” says Lecturer in Communication and Media Dr Lisa Harrison, at Flinders University.
From decoding viral fan theories to analysing the show’s retro aesthetic and cross-platform marketing.
The course dives into what makes Stranger Things a global storytelling phenomenon and how to create content that resonates.
“Stranger Things isn’t just entertainment; it’s a cultural connector.
“Our students will learn to create content that taps into those cultural veins.
“It’s about being authentic to youth voice while mastering the tools and techniques that make content meaningful and memorable.”
It’s a bold move that blends binge-worthy entertainment with future-focused education, proving universities can lead culture, not just follow tradition.
Graduates of Flinders University
Graduates of Flinders University walk away with a portfolio that displays their ability to craft compelling digital content, build audiences, and tell stories that resonate across platforms.
Getting into entertainment, marketing, media or the public sector, they’ll have the skills to thrive in the creator economy of tomorrow.
When Season 4 premiered, it became Netflix’s most-viewed English-language TV season of all time. With Season 5 expected to send fans into another frenzy,
Flinders University is tapping into this shared cultural moment to offer a learning experience that’s both academically rigorous and socially resonant for everybody.
The global impact of Stranger Things is undeniable.
“If millions are engaging with a show like Stranger Things, we see an opportunity to explore how and why that content connects and how students can apply those insights to their own creative work,” adds Lecturer of Communication & Media, Dr Harrison.
Flinders University
Its initiative is part of a new Flinders University brand campaign, the idea that universities should lead culture, not just follow tradition. By incorporating Stranger Things into the curriculum, Flinders is demonstrating that higher education can be just as relevant as it is rigorous and rad.
Marking this radical step forward, Flinders welcomes members of the public to campus for an immersive recreation of Joyce Byers’ iconic ‘Christmas Lights’ living room from Season 1 of the series.
Starting on Thursday, 27th Nov – Tuesday, 23rd Dec, at Flinders University, Festival Tower, Station Road, Adelaide 5000 SA. On Monday – Friday, 7:00 am – 6:00 pm, join students and the public in this immersive experience with Dr Lisa Harrison
Applications for the online Diploma in Digital Content Creation, now featuring Stranger Things, are now open. For more information and to apply, visit the Flinders University website: https://www.flinders.edu.au/