Affairs major from Columbia, MO
BEN COHEN, Staff Writer—
It is hard to blame any one person or thing for music at Denison’s recent death or its current cadaverous state.
There are some obvious suspects. The COVID-19 pandemic is the first that springs to my mind. It is exceedingly difficult to engage with music and arts when shows and venues are unsafe to inhabit.
Another possible cause is the outsized social clout of fraternities and their parties. While some excellent performances have been hosted by the Delta Chi fraternity, they are sporadic and virtually inimitable in size.
That said, these two factors must not be the only reasons for the state of DIY art and music at Denison—we may simply not be a musical campus, at least outside of the classroom, by other, similar school’s standards.
The Michael D. Eisner Center for the Performing Arts was dedicated on October 11, 2019. The aim of the modern, well-devised facility was, in the words of President Weinberg, to further Denison’s ambition of “doubling down on the arts.”
Over two years later, valuable art, music, dance, and expression continues to take place within the Eisner Center, synthesized in classrooms and studios by teachers and learners.
I have enjoyed the time I have spent within the Eisner Center and would be remised not to acknowledge the proportional impressiveness of Denison’s arts programs. They are valuable and has their own, vital roles. But it isn’t enough.
Denison’s music scene should be better. There are dozens of talented musicians. I know this because I have met many of them. I am lucky enough to count many as close friends. There is clearly not a lack of talent, and within these circles there is certainly no lack of ambition or interest. If you were to ask your friend in a band if they wanted to play a show, or even serenade you over dinner, their likely response might be to agree immediately and offer possible dates: enthusiasm and anticipation is tangible. Despite all this, however, live music continues to flounder. As coronavirus cases spike, the gigs I had planned have been cancelled. This imposed hiatus offered me an opportunity to reflect: in what way can Denison’s underground music and art culture grow, and why is it important that it does?
Currently, Denison claims one established, regularly performing band on the hill, The Cuties. I know most of the members well and have gone to almost all their shows this year. As much as I enjoy them, it is impossible to grow a scene from just one band.
It is important that every student interested in playing concerts or parties, busking on the quad, or just playing into their iPhone has the ability and encouragement to do so if our campus is interested in seeing Denison’s burgeoning arts community grow. Here is what can be done.
Denison’s administration and faculty should increase availability of accessible practice spaces for students without cars. They might also consider reworking practice space policy to allow for non-majors to engage with the Eisner Center.
Those responsible for campus programming might consider booking student acts and artists to augment what is already a well developed yearly schedule of events brought to campus.
Campus organizations have the power to draw lots of attention and even more to schedule and involve student artists in their efforts. Doobie Radio, an organization in which I am involved, has demonstrated interest in utilizing this ability, but there is no reason for it to hold a monopoly on music at Denison.
Finally, for the musicians and artists and DJs and dancers and writers and poets. Denison cannot build the kind of creative community it needs without you. Committing to this sort of endeavor will probably not result in immediate returns. But next year’s class will thank you. And the one after that.