“Death, Duality and Deconstruction: The Lively Lyrics of Conor Oberst” will be the topic of a University Honors Program Colloquium presented by student Allison Johnson at Texas A&M University-Texarkana, on Tuesday, April 4, at noon in University Center 217 on the A&M-Texarkana campus, 7101 University Ave.
In a summary of the presentation, Johnson said, “In 2005, emo music, having emerged from the alternative music scene, had an incredibly large following despite few unique songs. Most songs revolved around a type of pessimistic counter-culture that longed for death and all things emotionally charged and macabre. In these dark and depressing days of mainstream music, singer/songwriter Conor Oberst and his band Bright Eyes were deepening the discussion by deconstructing an extremely popular song topic – death. Oberst’s lyrics propose an interesting list of positives in death and creates a folksy, happy tone despite the topic.”
Johnson’s analysis primarily focuses on two songs from the band’s two, simultaneously released 2005 albums, “Easy/Lucky/Free” from “Digital Ash in a Digital Urn” and “At the Bottom of Everything” from “I’m Wide Awake It’s Morning.”
The University Honors Colloquia are a series of scholarly talks and presentations offered throughout the academic year. They provide a venue for University Honors students and faculty to present their research. The program also brings speakers to campus from outside the university community.
The presentation is open to the public. Refreshments will be served.
For more information, contact Dr. Craig Nakashian at Craig.Nakashian@tamut.edu.
