Big nod to Colin Meloy for tweeting this. This was the reason given for cancelling The New Pornographers gig at Calvin College who describe themselves as Christian and an academically excellent liberal arts college that shapes minds for intentional participation in the renewal of all things. Hmmmm, this sounds a bit screwed up to me…that they are worried about being mistakenly linked to pornography…crazy world we live in
Their statement:
Regrettably, Calvin College has decided to rescind its invitation to the band, The New Pornographers, slated to perform on Friday, October 15, 2010, in the Fieldhouse Complex on campus. We believe that the decision to invite the band fit our rubric of engaging culture through a Christian lens. The band makes good, thoughtful music, and we invited them here based on their artistic merit. However, after weeks of discussion and consideration, the irony of the band’s name was impossible to explain to many. The band’s name, to some, is mistakenly associated with pornography. Consequently, Calvin, to some, was mistakenly associated with pornography. Neither the college nor the band endorses pornography. The Student Activities Office regrets the way this has happened. We regret the message we have sent to the band and their fans with this cancellation, and any confusion this has caused generally. We have been in contact with the band to explain this regret and the breakdown in our own processes that led us to first invite them and then withdraw that invitation. Calvin College remains committed to the difficult, yet important work at faithfully engaging popular culture.
Could have been worse. Might have booked “Holy Fuck”.
The New Pornographers: My Right Versus Yours
[audio:http://www.box.net/shared/static/cgzbxra1il.mp3|titles=My Right Versus Yours|artists=The New Pornographers]
Holy Fuck: Red Lights
[audio:http://www.box.net/shared/static/oflnxl5phz.mp3|titles=Red Lights|artists=Holy Fuck]