May 24, 2004
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I’m signed up for a course titled “Bob Dylan: Rock ‘n’ Roll Prophet: http://www.92y.org/shop/class_detail.asp?catalog=92y%5FCatalog&category=Programs&category=Classes&category=Music&category=Music+Appreciation&productid=MM3NA25
I started actually writing my book today. It felt good. I’m going to write a couple sample chapters, work really hard on revising them (to send to publishers), then write a couple related articles for a couple journals/magazines to give my project a public face and some credence. I think the first will be for the Mars Hill Review, addressing how churches (and their youth leaders, Sunday School teachers, and pastors) must stop seeing popular music as a “tool” to use to communicate the gospel and rather see it as part of teens’ actual culture, to be examined thoughtful with genuine tools–e.g. youths’ minds, a Christian worldview, and so on. Music is art, and art is cultural. Music is not a tool. Dammit. The second will be for The Door, which is a magazine dedicated to critique of the church and Christian satire. It’ll look at how popular music for the church rarely deals with real issues in the prophetic mode (as Keith Green and Steve Taylor, for instance, did back in the day). Instead, we get songs that address bullshit non-issues (like Geoff Moore covering Larry Norman’s “Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music,” or the Newsboys singing, “Your in-depth research shows, drop the God emphasize the beat… God is not a secret to be kept”). Then, I’m not quite sure. Probably a cover story for Rolling Stone or something simple like that.
I had a fabulous East Village dinner tonight with my East Village honey–real mushroom, onion, and muenster crepes, a fabulous house salad, and an incredibly enjoyable glass of Merlot. (I know everyone but Chelle will make fun of me for that, but it’s worth it.)
I part with Robert Pinsky’s words, from a poem I just memorized. “When I had no roof, I made audacity my roof.”
Comments (7)
I certainly won’t make fun of you for that, cause I know the value of a good glass of merlot (having some not all that great merlot in my fridge right now).
miss you kiddo
Alright, now I’m jealous as allgetout. Let me know if you discuss any of these- Highway 61 Revisited, Gates of Eden, Dignity, Shelter from the Storm, Visions of Johanna, Its Alright Ma, or I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine. There is definitely no end to the potential discussion in that class, you’ve got to love some of the things that can be passed off as academic.
Title for your article: “Music is not a tool. Dammit.” Keep writing, it will help tip the scales.
That class sounds a lot like the class Dr. Gatlin will be offering next year: “The Beatles and Social Change.”
Are you getting ‘Study Abroad’ credit for these NYU classes?
Cap’n: Yes, this counts as a study away. (It is is “away,” after all, not “abroad.”) I cleared it with Guelzo, no problem. That’s why I said you should just take a noncredit class or two in D.C.
And what the HELL is Gatlin doing teaching that course? Since when did he become qualified to teach something like that? And why is Eastern letting him?
Regarding Gatlin: Because we let our professors do what they want… and Eastern sucks.
Regarding the book: Good work, keep on busting on the Christians.
WTF! Gatlin’s teaching about the Beatles? what is this stupid university coming to… He wouldn’t know John Lennon from John Wayne.
I am so glad I’m getting out.