Scholars flocking to 3-day symposium to dissect Springsteen

[Kire]

The subject is Springsteen

Scholars flocking to 3-day symposium to dissect the Boss
Thursday, September 08, 2005
BY KELLY HEYBOER



When Penn State University conference planner Mark Bernhard decided to put together an academic conference on Bruce Springsteen, he knew he'd attract a few scholars.

What he got was an unexpected flood of professors, historians, writers and graduate students submitting more than 150 academic papers on the Boss and his music to present at the symposium.

They ranged from in-depth studies of Springsteen's use of religious imagery to papers about the songwriter's references to the Vietnam War and the 9/11 attacks. Others compared the rocker to John Steinbeck, Walt Whitman and Flannery O'Connor.

Bernhard, a longtime Springsteen fan, was surprised by the quality of the papers and the number of scholars taking a serious academic look at the Boss.

"I knew it was out there, but I didn't know to what extent," Bernhard said.

<snip>

New York State Sen. Frank Padavan, a Republican, called the course a waste of money.

More: http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/firstglance/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1126230247303910.xml&coll=1

[Child_Of_Isis]

1. Major fan, here.

I am talking Major Fan!

[I_Make_Mistakes]

2. The BOSS, is the Man!