Posted on 08/31/2005 5:22:35 PM PDT by Pharmboy
"A Marxist Perspective on 'Darkness on the Edge of Town"' and "The Boss and the Bible" are among the academic papers to be presented when a New Jersey university hosts an academic symposium devoted entirely to Bruce Springsteen.
More than 150 papers by academics from across the United States, Sweden, Canada, Italy and Britain will be presented at the symposium, dissecting everything from the singer's patriotism to his ruminations of the working man.
Titled "Glory Days: A Bruce Springsteen Symposium," the event will take place at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, New Jersey, from September 9-11 and will not be restricted to academics.
Papers will be presented by a Lutheran minister, a Roman Catholic theologian, Wall Street analyst and the principal of a private school in Washington.
Why an entire conference on Springsteen?
"He was always shooting for something higher -- some broader socio-cultural theme," Kenneth Womack, one of the organizers and an associate professor of English at Pennsylvania State University, told Reuters.
He cited Springsteen's lyrics on class, community and other issues that spoke to the heart of Americana, saying they made his work worthy of deeper introspection.
More than 500 people are expected to attend the event, which will include outings to the Stone Pony, the fabled music venue where Springsteen first aired his special brand of rock.
"I hope its not too fan-nish," said Womack. "I hope people are thinking carefully about their arguments."
Among the themes at the symposium will be Springsteen's ties to his native New Jersey. "Springsteen is to New Jersey what Santa Claus is to the North Pole," said one abstract by a local newspaper editor. "How Bruce Made It Cool to be From New Jersey," was the title of another.
Springsteen is not the first musician to be honored by an academic conference revolving around his work. The Beatles and Bob Dylan have inspired similar academic efforts.
The highways filled with broken heroes on a last chance power drive...
Springsteen should " Just shut up and sing "
Springsteen should " Just shut up and sing "
Barf; I like one album and a couple of extra songs, but have always despised the phony working class hero he hypes and some NJers idolize--a kind of Fonzee attitude with a Rumson address. blehh. V's wife.
"More than 150 papers by academics"
More like papers by 150 Springsteen sycophants who should be teaching students the 3Rs instead of fawning over this pseudoprole and his blue jeans schtick.
I'm sure that these professors' universities will be pleased to note that their people are spending time on this crap.
Even better, just shut up.
Springsteen. Pffft.
C'mon. The stuff he wrote up to 1978 was pretty good. His zillionaire working class stiff stuff sucks--can't stand him now.
Why are only leftists "honored" this way? Not a rhetorical question.
"I'm sure that these professors' universities will be pleased to note that their people are spending time on this crap."
My senior year in college a light went on when I realized that too many of my classes were being held at the Post House Tavern.
Man, I never liked Springsteen's stuff -- especially in the early 80s, when he was supposedly "patriotic".
"We've got plans for other wankers
Who might come to our town
Yeah we're gonna rid the world
Of those Top 40 clowns!
"Then we're gonna buy some bombs
Just like the big boys have
So don't call us losers
Or you might just make us mad!"
- A little fun from the Dead Milkmen at Bruce Springsteen's expense! LONG LIVE THE METAL MILITIA!
Had once upon a time. Born to Run was great.
Absolutely agreed. Brilliant and impossible to top.
The screen door slams, Mary's dress waves
Like a vision she dances across the porch as the radio plays
Roy Orbison singing for the lonely
Hey, that's me and I want you only
Don't turn me home again, I just can't face myself alone again
Don't run back inside, darling, you know just what I'm here for
So you're scared and you're thinking that maybe we ain't that young anymore
Show a little faith, there's magic in the night
You ain't a beauty but, hey, you're alright
Oh, and that's alright with me
You can hide 'neath your covers and study your pain
Make crosses from your lovers, throw roses in the rain
Waste your summer praying in vain
For a savior to rise from these streets
Well now, I ain't no hero, that's understood
All the redemption I can offer, girl, is beneath this dirty hood
With a chance to make it good somehow
Hey, what else can we do now?
Except roll down the window and let the wind blow back your hair
Well, the night's busting open, these two lanes will take us anywhere
We got one last chance to make it real
To trade in these wings on some wheels
Climb in back, heaven's waiting on down the tracks
Oh oh, come take my hand
We're riding out tonight to case the promised land
Oh oh oh oh, Thunder Road
Oh, Thunder Road, oh, Thunder Road
Lying out there like a killer in the sun
Hey, I know it's late, we can make it if we run
Oh oh oh oh, Thunder Road
Sit tight, take hold, Thunder Road
Well, I got this guitar and I learned how to make it talk
And my car's out back if you're ready to take that long walk
From your front porch to my front seat
The door's open but the ride ain't free
And I know you're lonely for words that I ain't spoken
But tonight we'll be free, all the promises'll be broken
There were ghosts in the eyes of all the boys you sent away
They haunt this dusty beach road in the skeleton frames of burned-out Chevrolets
They scream your name at night in the street
Your graduation gown lies in rags at their feet
And in the lonely cool before dawn
You hear their engines rolling on
But when you get to the porch, they're gone on the wind
So Mary, climb in
It's a town full of losers, I'm pulling out of here to win
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