The Arnold Shaw Popular Music Research Center is pleased to announce the 2026–2027 Lecture Series. This academic year, they offer four lectures on diverse topics including video game music, heavy metal, Afro-Puerto Rican popular culture and Latin jazz, and Whitney Houston's embodiment of musical genius. The speakers are accomplished scholar/practitioners from across the U.S., including Vanderbilt University, Occidental College, the Hartt School of the Performing Arts, and UNLV.
These lectures have been selected by a panel of specialists from across UNLV. If you have suggestions for future speakers, you may reach out to any member of the selection committee listed below.
Further information about the lectures can also be found on our website and on our news feed. We hope to see you at these events!
Events list
October 15, 2026, 5:30 p.m.
Lecture by Stephen S. Hudson (Occidental College)
Title: "Metallica Never Sold Out: Style, Progression, and the Politics of Genre"
UNLV calendar link
Facebook event link
October 27, 2026, 5:30 p.m.
Lecture by Emily Lordi (Vanderbilt University)
Title: "Whitney Houston and Black Genius"
UNLV calendar link
Facebook event link
February 11, 2027, 4:30 p.m.
Lecture by Jose "Pepe" Jimenez (UNLV)
Title: "Afro-Puerto Rican Folklore, Jazz, Rock, and Funk"
UNLV calendar link
Facebook link
April 14, 2027, 5:30 p.m.
Lecture by Karen M. Cook (Hartt School, University of Hartford)
Title: "The Sonic Past(s) in Video Games"
UNLV calendar link
Facebook link
All lectures take place at UNLV in the Ham Fine Arts Building, Room 147. Events are free and open to the public.
Selection committee
- Jonathan Rhodes Lee, Music (committee chair and center director); popular music research interests: film music and related media; blues and related American popular music
- Heather Lusty, Honors College; popular music research interests: rock and heavy metal
- Lukas Perry, Music; popular music research interests: semiotics in video game music and film music
- Paul Ruma, Sociology (student representative); popular music research interests: hip hop music and culture
- Adam Schroeder, Music; popular music research interests: jazz performance and repertoire
- Jessica Teague, English; popular music research interests: jazz history and culture