FFM 2009

Calvin College Student Activities Office

Audio from Calvin College's Festival of Faith & Music 2009.

  1. 04/13/2009

    Toward a Theology of Independent Music - Kevin Erickson

    What is independent music? Where did it come from and why does it matter? Can creative choices about the production and distribution of art be spaces of cultural & social change as powerful as the works themselves? What would Gustavo Guiterrez think of Fugazi? Drawing on insights from Andy Crouch, Cornel West, and others, Erickson sketches out answers to these questions, and also explains why it’s probably a bad idea to turn your church’s youth room into an all-ages venue.

    40 min

  2. 04/13/2009

    When the Last Days Come - Micah Lott

    Over the past two decades, John Darnielle of the The Mountain Goats has crafted a remarkable collection of songs, distinguished by lyrics of high literary quality. One notable feature of Darnielle’s song-writing is his frequent use of eschatological language and imagery. This paper examines the “logic of eschatology” in Darnielle’s song-writing, paying special attention to themes of suffering, justice and hope.

    26 min

  3. 04/13/2009

    "Don't Let Me Explode" - Matthew Carillo-Vincent

    In linking our struggles in faith with the rigid demands of gender, The Hold Steady’s 2005 album Separation Sunday offers a conversation about ethics and empathy as a new way of thinking through the politics of masculinity at the beginning of the 21st century.

    49 min

  4. 04/13/2009

    Hot Soft Lights - Erin Keane

    The Hold Steady’s songs explore the struggles of ripping highs and exquisite, sketchy lows of clever kids, townies and a host of apocryphal characters in their hungry—and often violent—search for grace, their fatal flaws and dubious virtues given equal spiritual weight. An ornate thread of mysticism shoots through lyricist Craig Finn’s narrative as God is revealed to punks and skaters through frightening visions and bold transfigurations.

    19 min

  5. 04/13/2009

    Hell Yeah! - David Horace Perkins

    For creators and performers of American or Southern Gothic music, symbols of stereotyped Southern religion—emotionally charged revival, errant preachers, the amen corner, mourner’s bench, serpent handling, curses, damnation and divine retribution—find a place of prominence not only as fodder for songs, but as pillars of a vibrant live performance scene. This paper asks what kinds of cultural capital these symbols have both for the artists who employ them and for their audiences.

    34 min

  6. 04/13/2009

    I Be's Troubled - Stephen J. Nichols

    Blues music, with one foot in the church and the world of the African American spirituals and another foot in the cotton fields of the Mississippi Delta, exhibits a profound theological interpretation of life. The music of Muddy Waters, Charley Patton and Robert Johnson all has something to teach theologians. Their experiences made them keenly aware of life under the curse. Their craft provided the means for expressing it.

    27 min

  7. 04/10/2009

    Music + Faith + Commerce? - Trey Many

    In this workshop, Trey Many discusses the odd impact of having one’s faith associated with their music career, mainly focusing on Christianity and its role in popular music. Topics include the demonization of secular music within the church, the possible motivations for musicians have for publicly declaring their faith, and why Christian Rock’s dream of mainstream acceptance being realized may eventually destroy its market share.

    1h 39m

  8. 04/10/2009

    The Language of Faith - Tim Regan-Porter

    How do we talk about faith to those outside the faith community, as well as within it, in ways that promote understanding? It’s not just the vocal firebrands of “the religious right” that alienate. Too often, the language we use in everyday conversation comes across as foreign or inauthentic. The co-founder of Paste magazine explores the thorny semantics of faith, starting with the often-overlooked language divide between evangelical and mainline Christianity.

    1h 3m
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About

Audio from Calvin College's Festival of Faith & Music 2009.

Information

  • Creator
    Calvin College Student Activities Office
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    32
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2009 Calvin College
  • Show Website
    FFM 2009