Perfecting the Pride of All Nebraska

Authors

David Swotek, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

First Advisor

Rick Alloway

Second Advisor

Kristian Anderson

Date of this Version

5-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Citation

Swotek, D. 2025. Perfecting the Pride of All Nebraska. Undergraduate Honors Thesis. University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Comments

Copyright David Swotek 2025

Abstract

For my thesis, I completed a creative project focusing on my involvement in the College of Journalism and Mass Communications. I created a documentary/YouTube-style video about the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Cornhusker Marching Band and how much work goes into creating their performances. I wanted to see what work happens behind the scenes that their large audiences never get to see.

To get all the information I needed to create an efficient and effective piece, I interviewed 13 band students ranging in years, instruments, ranks, etc. It was very important to get a large range of perspectives on this piece because the band involves so many people from different colleges across campus. I also had six individuals take videos of themselves throughout one week, describing what is going on from their point of view. I wanted these videos because of the ability for band students to talk directly to the audience authentically. Additionally, I spent time at their practices and performances to not only get video and audio footage, but also to gain an understanding of what these events are like from their perspectives.

Overall, this project seeks to showcase the complexities of the Cornhusker Marching Band, how they can execute 300-person shows consistently without fail, and the community that this group creates for each other and the fans around them.