by Dale Lipscomb | Apr 12, 2010 | News Slider
Relying on his cane and the arm of editor Richard Goode, professor of history, Will Campbell made his way in front of the Beaman Library audience recently for a question-and-answer session for his new book, Writings on Reconciliation and Resistance. The March 9 appearance of Campbell, 86, attracted a range of listeners, from Lipscomb students to older adults. Some of the older attendees turned out to be Campbell’s friends who came to support him. In his younger years, Campbell was a civil rights activist. His beliefs on equality are still a defining factor in his character. Campbell’s biggest struggle today is sharing his ideas with a much younger, technological world. Campbell faces new hurdles in communicating with his audience. “In his later years more people want to hear him,” John Egerton, Campbell’s long time friend and car driver for the day, said. “By the time he was able to (reach a wider audience) he had less vigor.” Although Campbell’s age has produced new communication difficulties, people such as Goode recognize the importance in preserving his ideas. “The publisher contacted me and asked me f I would work on this project,” Goode said. Once on board, Goode began digging through archived works and interviewing Campbell to compile information. “Be as small as you can be, and have a beautiful library and a beautiful lady to run it,” Campbell said about how Christian schools should act. “Be proud of an answer like...
by Clay Smith | Apr 12, 2010 | News Slider
Bob Dylan, Bridgett Bardot, Julie Christie, Richard Price, Damien Hurst. What do all of these people have in common? They were all directly impacted by the life and work of Andy Warhol. The Art department presented its second event in the 2010 Presidential Lectureship series Thursday night in Ezell. Dr. Thomas Crow, the featured speaker, addressed the topic “Understanding Andy Warhol.” Crow is a distinguished art historian who has written six books and has taught at both Princeton University and Yale University. He now teaches modern art history at New York University. Crow was answering two main questions in his lecture: what makes Andy Warhol such an iconic figure, and why is his artwork still considered relevant, even though most of his paintings are nearly 50 years old? He began by addressing the direction of art before Warhol. Artists like Richard Hamilton began to experiment with creating art from arising celebrities and iconic figures. This reassembling of advertising and media allowed for the beginning of a new type of artistic expression, called pop art. Crow quoted Mark Rothko, who said, “The familiar identity of things has to be pulverized in order to destroy the finite associations with which our society increasingly enshrouds every aspect of our environment.” Warhol is an icon himself in art, and each of his paintings has been meticulously scrutinized for any shred of meaning. However, few people have been looking at how his works resemble one another. Crow suggested that the common motifs in Warhol’s paintings might speak as loud as each painting individually. Crow pointed to the different depictions of people, such as the...
by Jesse Baker | Apr 11, 2010 | News Slider
Dr. Dog has long walked the line between indie-rock stardom and virtual obscurity, but if it keeps releasing albums like Shame, Shame, the thought of obscurity will be quickly forgotten. Ripe with driving bass lines and sweeping harmonies, Shame, Shame is yet another home run from the folk-rock sluggers, and it is an impressive follow-up to the critically acclaimed 2008 release Fate, when even the most loyal of fans struggled to see any room for improvement on such a great album. Shame, Shame is far from a letdown off of a successful album; in fact it may be the band’s best work yet. Songs like “Shadow People,” “Jackie Wants a Black Eye” and “I Only Wear Blue” are great examples of how Dr. Dog can stay true to its distinctive sound while still growing and maturing as innovative musicians. Among the familiar sounds of Dr. Dog are the voices of co-lead singers Toby Leaman and Scott McMicken. Although Leaman’s raspy notes and the resonating tenor of McMicken are completely unique, the tones also seem as if they were made for one another. And the bond shows in the ubiquitous Beatles- or Beach Boys-esque harmonies and varied vocal textures exhibited on the album. Also making welcome reappearances are Leaman’s masterful driving bass lines (one of the most outstanding elements of Dr. Dog’s music), the reverberating snare that almost adds the nostalgic rhythm of a steam engine to the songs, and the brilliant guitars, especially on display in “Where’d All The Time Go?” and “Mirror, Mirror.” All these elements come together to make an album that may already be making bids...
by Nick Hogan | Apr 11, 2010 | News Slider
If you don’t enjoy getting songs stuck in your head and singing them all day, you might not want to listen to Weezer’s new album, Raditude. After hearing Weezer’s new single (“If You’re Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To” via downloadable content for Rock Band on the Xbox 360, I was very excited to hear the rest of the album. When I did, I was not disappointed. Rivers Cuomo, the band’s lead singer and songwriter, has written a good variation of music for this album and has a knack for creating catchy tunes. The only song that Cuomo didn’t write for this album was “In the Mall,” which was written by drummer and backup vocalist Patrick Wilson. “(If You’re Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To” has extraordinary potential to be a hit, and is just one of those songs that you can’t get out of your head. It also kicks off the album with a bang. The majority of the album has a very Blink-182 feel, but the music is a development from past Weezer albums into a cross between the two bands, and it is extraordinarily successful. The band toured with Blink-182 recently, reflected in songs such as “I’m Your Daddy” and “The Girl Got Hot.” The album also contains a few “love ballads” (and with Weezer, I use that term loosely), which were very typical of Weezer’s musical style. These songs, such as “Put Me Back Together,” “Trippin’ Down The Freeway” and “I Don’t Want To Let You Go,” are typical of any band in this genre, but that...
by Jameson Roper | Apr 11, 2010 | News Slider
The newly formed Prentice Meador Distinguished Lectures began on Tuesday with Landon Saunders from Heartbeat Ministries speaking in Willard Collins Alumni Auditorium at Lipscomb University. The lecture series showcases speakers who exemplify effective Christian ministry, as Meador did throughout his career. Saunders, a Lipscomb graduate and personal friend of Meador, founded Heartbeat Ministries, a faith-based nonprofit organization that aims to show people that they can live a joyous life regardless of circumstance. Through Heartbeat Ministries, Saunders targets young people between the ages of 18 and 29, an age group that Meador believed in and constantly reached out to. “He may be from your parents’ generation, but he’s doing so much for your generation,” President Randy Lowry said in his introduction of Saunders. Saunders spoke of his experience with young people who had stopped going to church and the reasons they stopped. A common strain of answers Saunders received pertains to the nature of the church as an assembled group. One primary area of focus in Saunders’ address was about the overemphasis of time spent in the church, which Saunders calls “assembled time.” Saunders stressed how the way we act outside of church assembled, which he calls “church unassembled,” is far more vital as is an unlimited amount of time. “Maybe we have this conception of church, that it only occupies three hours on a Sunday morning,” Saunders said. “And most people’s conception of church is based on that three hours.” Saunders said this assembled church can be a potentially negative thing because of some churches’ homologous and sometimes exclusive nature. “No one needs to tell us how much time...
by Dale Lipscomb | Apr 11, 2010 | News Slider
In 1970, Robert Greenleaf forever developed the idea of a leader as a servant in his essay “The Servant as Leader.” Greenleaf’s ideas that leaders should meet the needs of others before their own thrive today at Lipscomb University through Walt Leaver, Vice President for University Relations. “Humility is something he brings into virtually everything he does,” said Dr. Randy Lowry, President of Lipscomb University. “He has this ability to make sure everyone is featured and spotlighted.” Leaver is a Lipscomb graduate who has worked in the administration since 1994. His position includes responsibilities ranging from faith outreaches to arena management. “Without Leaver, outreach wouldn’t be happening to the degree its happening,” said David Hughes, Lipscomb University’s Veteran’s Liaison. “Walt gives and gives.” For Leaver, being Vice President of Relations means working hard on numerous projects. He has been a key figure for Lipscomb events such as Lighting of the Green, Summer Celebration, Impact summer youth camp, the Maybelle Carter Memorial Stage dedication concert, and the recent Operation Yellow Ribbon event. Office hours for Leaver can vary depending on what meetings he has on his agenda, but he spends a bulk of the day at Lipscomb. His commitment, however, is a 24-hour job. “Walt is very creative and works hard,” said Joe Ivey, Senior Vice President for Advancement. “Leaver’s work ethic is apparent, but often goes unnoticed to the public.” Leaver’s work goes beyond Lipscomb to serve others in the Nashville community. Apart from Lipscomb, Leaver is the minister at Brentwood Hills Church of Christ, is on the Nashville Inner City Ministry board of directors, and serves on the...
