FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, March 27, 2008
BETHANY STUDENT PRESENTS AT POP CULTURE CONFERENCE
 |
| Cody Whetstone. |
LINDSBORG, Kan.—Bethany College senior Cody Whetstone, Lindsborg, Kan., presented a critical work at the Popular Culture Association & American Culture Association’s recent gathering in San Francisco.
The national conference, held March 19 through 22, brought together more than 2,000 participants to discuss political, historical, and literary research in popular culture. Panels were held on a wide variety of topics, including entertainment, fashion, technology and science fiction.
Whetstone was encouraged to apply by Kristin Van Tassel, associate professor of English at the college, who presented at the conference last year.
This fall, he submitted an abstract, briefly summarizing the argument of the paper he would present. He then worked to research, draft and revise the paper, titled "Martin Scorsese and the Deportation of Aesthetic Merit."
In the work, Whetstone argues that the more recent films of director Martin Scorsese – including “Gangs of New York,” “The Aviator” and “The Departed” – aren’t as aesthetically nuanced, or satisfying, as his earlier works. “The popular perception of Scorsese was replaced by an obsession, by the popular culture, with winning an Oscar rather than crafting a ‘beautiful’ or ‘aesthetically structured’ film,” he said.
Whetstone presented his argument as part of a three-person panel on film aesthetics. Each presenter was given half an hour to speak; the panel then interacted with the audience in a question and answer session.
One of the most exciting parts of the conference was the “conversation after the presentation, as well as the conversations that happened outside, running into people around the area,” said Whetstone.
He also was able to make connections with publishers and editors of university presses, who were on hand for the conference. College and university professors primarily attend the event.
“It definitely opened my eyes to the possibility of pursuing a career in this field,” he said. “It’s challenging to think about different aspects of society and culture, such as what we as a culture demand from our art.”
Bethany’s Student Congress provided a scholarship to help fund Whetstone’s registration, lodging and transportation for the conference.
The Popular Culture Association (PCA) was founded in the late 1960s, and in 1979 began holding joint conferences with the American Culture Association (ACA). According to its Web site, the goals of the PCA/ACA include nurturing the study of popular and American culture, and supporting new and established scholars in both their research and teaching.
Whetstone is majoring in English and secondary teaching, with minors in theatre and philosophy. He writes a regular film column for the Messenger, Bethany's student newspaper; is active in the Bethany College theatre department; and serves as secretary of Bethany's Student Congress.
Before attending Bethany, he studied film production at the School of Cinema and Television at the University of Southern California.
Bethany College, established by Swedish Lutheran immigrants in 1881, is a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The mission of Bethany College is to nurture and challenge individuals in their search for truth and meaning as they lead lives of faith, learning and service. Bethany College is on the web at www.bethanylb.edu.
-30-
