Rapper, singer and essayist Dessa addressed social media, writing and rhetoric at the 23rd Annual Undergraduate Communication Research Conference Friday in the James B. Woulfe Alumni Hall.
Dessa was the keynote speaker at Friday’s event, which explored the opportunities and challenges faced in the communication field.
“We’ve had rockstar scholars before, but this time we wanted to have a real rockstar,” Bernard Armada, professor of communications, said while introducing Dessa.
According to Armada, Dessa was a unique but appropriate choice for the keynote speaker. A Minneapolis native, Dessa has been part of the local rap group Doomtree for the past 10 years.
“She has a rare convergence of a woman doing eclectic hip-hop, and she’s a real thinker,” Armada said. “She brings a refined quality and a socially conscious perspective, and she’s a big deal in the Twin Cities. I thought undergrads would get a kick out of her, and she’s done things relevant to communication as a practitioner.”
In her speech, Dessa elaborated on her songwriting process as well as her efforts to explore different aspects of communication.
“We talk a lot about how to better communicate. But, I wish I had done more studying in my communication classes about how to receive communication, how to be mindful of the way that I process it,” Dessa said.
She described a contrast between the language she uses in the academic realm and the language and idioms used in everyday life.
“There’s a risk here. Academics name stuff, and we name it really well. There are good ideas that will not come gift-wrapped to you,” Dessa said.
Dessa also described her life as a traveling musician and her use of several social media outlets such as Twitter and Instagram as a way encourage new listeners to “press play” and become a fan of Doomtree, as well as her solo work.
Sophomore Miranda Jerabek is a fan of Dessa’s music and said she was eager to hear her speak at the event.
“I love Dessa as a rapper. I was super excited she was speaking, and she did a great job. She’s a queen,” Jerabek said.
The conference, which featured college students from 12 Midwestern institutions, consisted of three sessions in which students presented papers relating to film, relationships and sociology. Three students were awarded for their work: Laura Marie Smith of the University of Minnesota, Samantha Wisneski of St. Thomas and Christine Ohenewah of Macalester College.
Armada said the faculty from other universities appreciated the opportunities the conference presented.
“It’s a great venue for students from all around the Midwest,” Armada said. “It puts our department and the communication field on the map as an intellectual endeavor.”
Jerabek said the conference subjects interested her.
“I think it’s beneficial because it gives you the chance to hear more about riveting topics, practice public speaking, as well as present your own research and have questions and discussions regarding it,” Jerabek said.
Junior Sara Raner said she thinks the conference is very beneficial to the COJO department because it gives undergraduate students the chance to uncover ideological messages.
“Uncovering these messages is important to show that our words matter and do affect our societies values and understanding,” Raner said.
Raner also enjoyed the message of Dessa’s speech.
“Dessa’s speech was amazing,” Raner said. “Delivering a message to ‘press play’ applied not only to her music but how we need to approach communication to captivate the widest audience.”
Dessa said she does speaking engagements about five times per year, and she enjoyed the format of the conference.
“I think it’s an interesting opportunity to cultivate an impression and very rapidly move through a story with a room of captive strangers,“ Dessa said. “In a rap environment, people leave, people flirt. In a prose environment, you don’t get to see the reactions of people to whom you’re speaking. Here, it’s a very free-form opportunity as a communicator to craft an experience.”
Michelle Doeden can be reached at doed1842@stthomas.edu.