Mississippi State University will host a talk titled “Myth-issippi: How Art Makes Place,” followed by a concert with refreshments, on Oct. 19. The goal of “Myth-issippi” is to celebrate Mississippi’s 200 years of statehood.
The event will take place at the Colvard Student Union Dawg House in front of the new wall mural, “Black Prairie, Mississippi, World,” from 6 to 8 p.m.
The hosts of the talk are MSU’s W.L. Giles Distinguished Professors Brent Funderburk and Richard Brown.
Funderburk said to understand what the talk is all about, one must first understand the importance of the new mural. 
“Black Prarie, Mississippi, World” depicts iconic Mississippi musicians, including Howlin’ Wolf, Jimmie Rodgers and Elvis Presley, interspersed among landscapes from Mississippi’s history.
Funderburk said “Myth-issippi” will focus on some of the same ideas reflected in the mural.
“The identity of our state and any place is a combination of the physical geography and the idea of the place; the communal beliefs that make a place unique,” Funderburk said. “‘Art and culture play a significant role in being an interface that reveals the shape or iconicity of Mississippi, and, specifically, our Black Prairie here.”
Funderburk will open the event with a short lecture, followed by a discussion between Funderburk and colleague Brown. The talk will feature three diverse and eclectic stories to drive home the myth aspect of “Myth-issippi.”
Mississippi has a much more diverse culture to celebrate than just cotton, sweet tea and southern twang in the past 200 years.
“We have tried to plan diverse events that span a wide range of topics related to the history of Mississippi, including natural history, agriculture, the humanities and the arts,” said Amy Hoffman, the organizer of the event. “This event gives us an opportunity to celebrate some of the visual artists and musicians that helped build and define the culture of our state.”
Following the talk, Crawlin’ Caleb’s Blues Revue band will give a live blues performance.
Brown will not only talk about how blues affected the state during the discussion, he will also play the harmonica with the band.
Brown said while many people are familiar with the Delta blues and even the Hill Country blues, Black Prairie blues predates both. 
Hoffman said blues is fundamental part of Mississippi’s history.
“It embodies the emotions that people have endured in the face of adversity, leading the listener to have a better understanding of the trials faced by Mississippians through time,” Hoffman said. “Blues is an experience. It is an account of life here, and it is an integral part of Mississippi’s story.”
Hoffman said she is excited for this event and the remaining bicentennial celebrations to come in the following weeks, information about which can be found through the MSU event page.