Ira Glass Lecture

I went to this lecture knowing little about Ira Glass. While I have listened to NPR before, (often in the car with parents) I had not heard of his show specifically. So, I wasn't entirely sure of what to expect during the lecture. I was very happily surprised when I found that the time passed very quickly as Glass was humorous and intelligent, and spoke very eloquently. Hendricks Chapel was packed past capacity, and people stood for the entire lecture just to hear him.

He began by entering with the lights off, and spoke for a couple of minutes in the pitch black. It was a different beginning to any lecture I had ever been to, and really got the audience in tune with the concept he was trying to demonstrate, which is that radio is all about the voice. It is different than TV or other mediums in that you can't see the person speaking. This makes it easier to relate to someone. He gave the example of seeing a punk girl versus just hearing her voice. By taking away the usual characteristics of how we go about judging people, you are only left with the raw voice, giving radio a more intimate and emotional appeal. The quote he gave here was "Not seeing has a power in itself."

He spoke about past stories he had broadcast, providing the audience with details we would have no idea of otherwise. He never failed to entertain, and his points always carried a positive message.

He gave advice to the journalism students present, saying,

"Look for stories with surprises. The world is a place where pleasure and discovery are possible, and it makes things seem hopeful."

Glass inspired the packed chapel, and many left laughing as they talked about the funny stories he had mentioned.