Ink Out Loud: Can music save your mortal soul?
By Mandy Feder
I consider myself a Cliff Clavin of sorts in regard to music trivia. Here”s a “little-known fact,” a full-semester course was offered at an accredited university based solely on one song.
Don McLean”s 1971 smash hit “American Pie,” is much more than pop culture or a catchy tune; it”s a real looking glass into generations of history.
My own history has threads of McLean woven into it.
“Long, long time ago, I can still remember how that music used to make me smile.” I was 5 years old, a tiny participant along with Pete Seeger and McLean, in the clean-up effort on the Hudson River in New York on a sloop called the Clearwater.
McLean”s song provides historical insight, adds dimension and feeling that millions of people were able to relate to then and still do now.
I thought I might attempt to dissect the eight-and-a-half minute song in 700 words or less, but I digress. I”m no Don McLean.
Colleges and universities nationwide offer courses with titles that might make some scoff.
Some examples include “Philosophy and Star Trek,” Georgetown University; “Daytime serials: Family and social roles,” University of Wisconsin; “The science of superheroes (physics),” University of California, Irvine; “The science of Harry Potter (honors),” Frostburg State University; “Simpsons and philosophy,” University of California, Berkeley; “Far Side entomology,” Oregon State; and the State University of New York at Buffalo as well as Northwestern offer courses about pornography.
Perhaps students would sign up for these courses because they sound like fun or they may think it would result in an easy A.
My friend Tony and I took a sewing class in high school for the A. We carefully researched the simplest project, a vest. We goofed off all semester and at the 11th hour we created the mustard-colored disasters. The seams were crooked. I began pulling them out with a seam ripper. Tony said it was taking too long. He picked up my vest and ripped it in half. I, in turn ripped his in half. We laughed hysterically until the teacher said, “You both get F”s in this class.”
My only F, I learned to take every subject seriously.
There is value in learning. Kudos to whatever vehicle drives the thinking process.
In 2004, Ernest Morrell, associate professor of urban schooling, associate director of youth research, Institute for Democracy, Education and Access (IDEA) at the University of California, Los Angeles, published “Linking Literacy and Popular Culture: Finding Connections for Lifelong Learning.” In Morrell”s research he outlined how teachers can use popular culture as a teaching tool. He designed units that combined films with a book of a similar theme. One example of this, the students compared “The Godfather” films against Homer”s “The Odyssey.” This resulted in the students from urban high schools ability to generate interpretations and gain an awareness of popular culture and literary texts.
I think history courses could be offered on the movie “Forrest Gump” and the Billy Joel song “We didn”t start the fire.”
Unorthodox teaching methods may open doors for those apprehensive about learning.
With that said, I have not figured out the value of “Underwater Basket Weaving,” a course offering at both, the University of California, San Diego and Reed College in Portland, Ore.
“Do you recall what was revealed the day the music died?” – Don McLean
Mandy Feder is the Record-Bee news editor. She can be reached at mandyfeder@yahoo.com or 263-5636 Ext. 32.
