Hi everyone, I'm back in the Host Chair on this Remembrance Day (or Veteran's Day or Poppy Day if you will).
We have some catching up to do.
I've been pretty busy with school lately. That's right, I'm back at university (UBC) taking a Master's Degree in Creative Writing. Over the last few months, I've noticed that a word comes up a lot in my courses — conflict. No, we're not having all out fistfights in class (though that could be interesting...) but rather, exploring the importance of conflict in story telling.
You know the deal — protagonist has an objective, antagonist gets in the way and conflict ensues. Conflict is everywhere from the bus (rush hour crowding = conflict) to the Sunday dinner table (dear, I'm filing for divorce).
I don't think it's as easy to spot conflict in song lyrics and there probably isn't any a lot of the time. Or maybe it's subtle, an underscoring theme perhaps, like suburban struggle is in The Arcade Fire's latest concept album "The Suburbs".
On the other hand, Storytelling songs highlight conflict really well. Take for instance Sunparlour Players' song "Battle of 77" that describes a rural dispute or Portico's "The Battle of Duck Lake."
Folks, I feel a thesis coming on. And more immediately, a radio show!