James Salem discusses pop culture in 'Last Lecture'

For his "Last Lecture," an award-winning UA professor will talk about the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Buddy Holly and why studying popular music is important on Thursday in Alston Hall.

James Salem, a professor of American studies, will deliver this year's Last Lecture, titled "Bye, Bye Miss American Pie: Why I Study American Popular Music." The lecture will center on the song "American Pie" by Don McClean.

"For students who know Dr. Salem, I think it's a way to really honor him, because he's retiring," said Natalie Adams, assistant dean of the Graduate School. "For people who haven't had him, it's their last opportunity to hear the person who basically brought American studies to UA."

According to a press release, the premise of the Last Lecture series is for a chosen professor to answer: "If this were your last time to ever address a group of UA students, what would you say to them?" The subject and format of the lecture is up to the professor, and the speaker is chosen every year by students.

Salem will incorporate music into his lecture, including songs alluded to in "American Pie," such as Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone," the Beatles' "Helter Skelter" and the Byrds' "Eight Miles High."

"You can listen to that song and study history," Adams said. "It speaks to people and shows that music is powerful and can cause people to work for social change."

Adams said that students who nominated Salem described him as "passionate" and "witty." Some even said that Salem inspired them to change their career paths.

"What students really like about him is that he takes something like popular culture, things that a lot of people would consider trivial, and he shows how important it is to take it seriously," Adams said.

Salem was the recipient of the 2007 Mary Turpie Prize for distinguished teaching, mentoring and program development in American Studies from the American Studies Association, and the 1998 National Alumni Association's Outstanding Commitment to Teaching Award. He has published plays, songs, essays and 18 books, the latest of which, "The Late Great Johnny Ace and the Transition from R&B to Rock and Roll," was published in 1999 by the University of Illinois Press as part of its Music in American Life series.

Salem will speak in 30 Alston Hall at 6 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. A reception will follow.