The first ever Aerosmith Studies Conference took place this past November in Park City, Utah, with Aerosmith scholars raising their concern about universities failing to acknowledge the legitimacy of this field. Aersomith scholar Tony Genowski argued, "The more universities de-legitimize Aerosmith studies, the further students get from being able to discuss, analyze and be inspired by the single greatest artistic movement of the 20th Century." Fellow scholar Michael Ribbens added, "There were those of us who felt the induction of Aerosmith into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was the first step in universities recognizing our field of study. Instead it feels like that was just to appease us, with hopes that we would keep quiet. Well, dream on universities because Janie's got a gun, and is not going to keep quiet." 
Despite pressure from outside forces, there are some students brave enough to forge their Aerosmith education on their own. Jason Maller at the University of Chicago recently completed his thesis, "Steven Tyler and the Scarves: What's Up With That," a brilliant essay breaking down the meaning of the scarves Tyler hangs from his mic stand. Maller says, "It was difficult getting this thesis approved, and I may not graduate on time, but I believe in this field of study. Aerosmith needs to be analyzed, and we need to start before they die." Angela Deckson just completed one of the greatest works in Aerosmith theory "Why the Second Half of Aerosmith's Career Can't Be Ignored." She says, "Within the Aerosmith community, there is this clique that only finds value in the early part of Aerosmith's career. But 'I Don't Want to Miss a Thing' and 'Jaded' are just as relevant to Aerosmith studies as 'Walk this Way' and 'Sweet Emotion.' Maybe moreso."
Universities who continue to ignore Aerosmith as a legitimate field of study will only face a greater backlash from the Aerosmith community-at large. There are currently plans to develop a research institute for Aerosmith scholars, which we hope will further legitimize this essential field of study.
2 comments:
Absolutely hilarious. WTF is up w/ those scarfs?
Steven says, "I was living with a woman on 23rd street in New York. One of my old bands, the Chain Reaction, was playing at the Scene, opening for the guy who sang 'Tip Toe Through The Tulips,' Tiny Tim- and I had no shirt. This woman left me for Jimmy Page when the Yardbirds came through, and she took all my clothes and threw them outside. I found them in the alley. I took one of the shirts and tied them to the mike tand. And I kind of like that- those flowy things that I copped from Brian Jones. Also, when Aerosmith first started, we'd go out with bands like the Kinks and the Mahavishnu Orchestra. You were a dartboard. 'Boo! We want the Kinks!' I put up with that for the longest time. And just as a guitar player combs his hair down over his face to hide behind, I would need something to hide behind, too. The scarves would be my thing. In the early days, I used to put weights on the bottom of them, whack people in the audience with them and pull 'em back like fishhooks. Get those fucks down in the front who were going like this [extends middle finger]."
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