In the last few years, a series of “culture wars” have been ignited across the country. Activists from all points of the political spectrum are turning to beloved cultural objects to stake a claim for their differing beliefs in a politically fraught moment.

What is at stake in these conflicts? High Stakes Culture is a series that brings humanities perspectives to bear on current debates. Please join us for two events this fall (Oct. 10 & 24) as we ask: how and why does culture matter so much now?

Today:
"Thinking Through Election Overload: Patriotism and Country Music: Who Owns What?" with Mark Clague (Music), Dean Hubbs (Women's and Gender Studies, Music), Lydia Kelow-Bennett (Afroamerican and African Studies) and moderator Matthew Countryman (Afroamerican & African Studies, History).

Please join us for a conversation about country music, patriotism, and political divisions in the U.S. Country music has roots in rural working-class America and has often, but not always, been associated with beat-up pick-up trucks and conservative politics. In the last few years there has been a resurgence in the popularity of country music across the demographic and political spectrum. Might this signal new cultural common ground? Is there something to be learned from the past and the present of country music? Please join us for a conversation about music, patriotism and personal and national identity formation.

We’ll ask questions like:
What is country music, today?
Why country music now?
What is the cultural significance of Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter”?
Does the surge in popularity suggest new thinking about patriotism?
Can country music help to bridge our cultural divides?