Introduction of \u27Distracted from Meaning: A Philosophy of Smartphones\u27

When our smartphones distract us, much more is at stake than a momentary lapse of attention. Our use of smartphones can interfere with the building-blocks of meaningfulness and the actions that shape our self-identity. By analyzing social interactions and evolving experiences, Roholt reveals the mechanisms of smartphone-distraction that impact our meaningful projects and activities. Roholt’s conception of meaning in life draws from a disparate group of philosophers—Susan Wolf, John Dewey, Hubert Dreyfus, Martin Heidegger, and Albert Borgmann. Central to Roholt’s argument are what Borgmann calls focal practices: dinners with friends, running, a college seminar, attending sporting events. As a recurring example, Roholt develops the classification of musical instruments as focal things, contending that musical performance can be fruitfully understood as a focal practice. Through this exploration of what generates meaning in life, Roholt makes us rethink the place we allow smartphones to occupy in the everyday. But he remains cautiously optimistic. This thoughtful, needed interrogation of smartphones shows how we can establish a positive role for technologies within our lives

Being-with Smartphones

In a social situation, why is it sometimes off-putting when a person reaches for his smartphone? In small-group contexts such as a college seminar, a business meeting, a family meal, or a small musical performance, when a person begins texting or interacting with social media on a smartphone he may disengage from the group. When we do find this off-putting, we typically consider it to be just impolite or inappropriate. In this essay, I argue that something more profound is at stake. One significant way in which individuals shape their self-identities is through interactions with others in small groups. Much identity-work is interdependent; it requires generating and preserving social contexts. I argue that the smartphone-use of some individuals can fracture a group’s context and thus negatively affect the identity-work of others. In this essay, I examine identity-work, sociality, and personal technology from a perspective of existential phenomenology

In Praise of Ambiguity: Musical Subtlety and Merleau-Ponty

When a jazz, rock, or hip-hop drummer strikes certain notes in each measure slightly late, instead of hearing the degree to which those notes are late, we typically hear the effects of those variations; namely, a groove, the feel of a rhythm. Slight variations of pitch function similarly. In this essay, I argue that certain analytic theorists go astray due to their preoccupation with the variations themselves. By invoking Maurice Merleau-Ponty\u27s insights into subtle visual perceptions, and his notion of perceptual indeterminacy, I avoid an account of musical subtlety suggested by Daniel Dennett that is too coarse-grained, as well as the bleak conclusion that certain musical subtleties are ineffable, Diana Raffman\u27s view. I conclude that elements of music that are perceived ambiguously can perform a positive function in such aesthetic experiences: they can mediate or foster emergent qualities; moreover, they must be perceived in this way to do so

Tiger Steel Concert, Fall 2013

This is the program from the Fall 2013 Tiger Steel concert directed by Dr. Ryan Lewis. Tiger Steel, the OBU Steel Drum Ensemble, specializes in the performance of calypso and soca music from the Caribbean nations of Trinidad and Tobago—the birthplace of steel drums—but also performs a wide variety of styles from jazz, pop, and rock to classical, funk, and Latin

Tiger Steel and Pan Jouvet Concert, Fall 2016

The Ouachita Baptist University Steel Bands: Tiger Steel and Pan Jouvet. Director: Ryan Lewis Tiger Steel, the Advanced Steel Drum Ensemble, specializes in the performance of calypso and soca music from the Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago—the birthplace of steel drums—but also performs a wide variety of styles from jazz, pop, and rock to classical, funk, and Latin. Founded in 2013, Tiger Steel is made up of undergraduate students from academic departments across campus and countries around the world. In addition to performing steel drum concerts on campus, in public schools, and at private events, members study the social, historical, and cultural context of the steel band, as well as musical aspects such as theory, improvisation, acoustics, arranging, and composing. Pan Jouvet, the Beginning Steel Drum Ensemble, is open to all OBU students—no audition or musical experience is necessary. Pan Jouvet members learn basic pan playing techniques and study the music and culture of Trinidad and Tobago. After one semester of participation, Pan Jouvet members may audition for Tiger Steel or choose to continue performing in Pan Jouvet

Steel Bands Concert, Spring 2019: Featuring Guest Artist Jeannine Remy

This is the program for the Spring 2019 steel bands concert which includes Tiger Steel, Pan Jouvet, and Pan Harmony, and featuring guest artist Jeannine Remy

Tiger Steel Concert, Spring 2014

This is the program for the Spring 2014 Steel Band concert directed by Dr. Ryan Lewis and featuring Tiger Steel

Tiger Steel Concert Featuring Guest Artist Dr. Sim Flora, Spring 2013

This is the program from the Spring 2013 Steel Band concert directed by Dr. Ryan Lewis and featuring Tiger Steel and Dr. Sim Flora