By Rachel Boulton
What was the role of music in early television? Professor Murray Forman set out to answer this question in a lecture last Wednesday. He presented parts of his research that he has been working on since the mid 90s.
The public lecture and presentation is the third in a series of seven, designed to correlate with a senior seminar communications course, but is being offered to the entire university. These lectures feature a new professor each week, who share their research with the student body.
“[This series] is designed to showcase the research department and attract others from outside to talk about their research,” said David Marshall, chair of the communications department, he is also the coordinator of the series. “Students are not aware that teachers are conducting their own research.”
“There is a joy in archival research. I’m clearly having a blast with it,” said Forman about his involvement in the program.
“It was a really good presentation,” said Georgia Dufrense, a junior communications major. “He really showed how the importance of appearance increased for musicians in early television.”
There were also doubts if television would catch on. The CEO’s and executives of television stations did not believe that the general public would be willing to sit down and watch a show for more than 15 minutes at a time said Forman.
However, Forman discussed the important role that music had in developing television, which in the early years was mostly based on Broadway musicals. “[These] were conventions that established a platform for modern television, such as Elvis,” Forman said.
“This lecture fills in some pop music history gaps by emphasizing and drawing from original material. I am presenting an unique story,” said Forman.
Some students agreed he was doing just that.
“I thought that Forman’s lecture created an excellent bridge of the evolution between each of the premier decades being displayed on television,” said Jonathan Germain, a senior media studies major.
Once the hour-long lecture concluded, students had a chance to ask the Forman questions.
The fourth lecture will be held this Wednesday at noon. The lecture is entitled “Unpacking the Concepts of Conjectural Articulation through some 21 Century Political Expressions,” and will be given by Dr. Boulou de B’Beri who is also communications professor.
