American journalist Chuck Klosterman entertained students Monday night in the Memorial Union Theater with an extensive question and answer period and insightful commentary on pop culture and the upcoming election.
Klosterman's informal speech touched on politics and a variety of subjects in pop culture - from the downfall of Britney Spears to the future of the recording industry.
I'm never really sure what to talk about at these things,"" said Klosterman when taking the stage. ""And I sometimes think I should write a speech, but that seems ridiculous.""
After beginning his speech with an anecdote about strange people in Austin, Texas he switched the focus to the 2008 election. Klosterman said he supports U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., but said he thinks U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., would be a better candidate.
He said believes the country would be more prepared in Clinton's hands yet still will vote for Obama because he is ""more charming.""
""I feel like the country will be better off with him, you know, 'change' and 'hope' and all that stuff.""
Amid the humor and wit, Klosterman addressed how marketing and the media created immense problems for Britney Spears, turning her entire life and image into a brand.
""Her whole life has been based on her image filtered through other people's realities,"" he said, adding that Spears lacks the critical thinking and self-awareness needed for a person to understand reality.
""She keeps doing these things and people don't stop her because people see them as extensions of marketing.""
Klosterman also addressed the future of the music industry, which he said is loosing money as a combination of illegal downloading and the iPod.
The ability to download only one song from an artist as opposed to buying a whole album is severing the relationships to bands fans once felt, according to Klosterman.
In response to audience-prompted questions, Klosterman shared his thoughts on the TV shows ""Lost"" and ""Friday Night Lights,"" the implications of internet pornography on American culture and why Shaquille O'Neal moving to Phoenix ""is not as bad as people seem to be thinking.""
Klosterman appeared as part of the Memorial Union's distinguished lecture series.
