The term “main melody,” or zhu xuanlü, from contemporary Chinese Communist Party discourse, describes cultural activity, including media and journalism, that abides by the main politics of the CCP, as creating a “melody” that society harmonizes to, according to the China Media Project.
Eli Durst, associate professor of practice in photography and media and department associate chair, said this term inspired his latest work. Through photographs of cotillion groups, dance practices, ROTC training and school performances, his third monograph explores youth identity formation and questions conformity in institutions.
“In America … we live in a culture that celebrates, supposedly, individuality and freedom,” Durst said. “We’re all conforming to certain ideas and patterns. … If you go outside the bounds of that, if you challenge that, whether it’s with your gender expression or ideas about masculinity, society punishes you in some way.”
On Thursday, Durst traveled to New York City for the New York Art Book Fair, where “The Children’s Melody” premiered for the first time. On Tuesday, Durst will speak at First Light Books in Hyde Park, as the book’s Austin debut.
One image in “The Children’s Melody” features a high school cheer team rehearsing, which Durst said he shot with strategic lighting to give it an unreal quality and for the viewer to think about the subject in a different way, highlighting the essence of conformity.
“There’s a cost to that,” Durst said. “What it does to people who feel like they don’t fit that mold. But then, even (for) the people who do fit the mold, all the pressure to be perfect, what that does to us is psychological.”
Dylan Haefner and Ania Davila, studio art seniors and Durst’s students, said they plan to attend the First Light talk. Davila said she feels excited to see new work by Durst, as his past two works were released before they both came to UT.
“The way he thinks about photography challenges what most people do,” Davila said. “It’s more inquisitive. … It’s not giving up a straight-up answer. It’s this in-between (area).”
Haefner said having a professor who continues to practice and earn achievements, like the 2025 Guggenheim Fellowship and Belfast Photo Festival Spotlight Award, awarded to Durst for “The Children’s Melody,” helps students climb the ladder in the photo world and challenges them to think differently about photography.
“Teaching stuff that he also preaches doesn’t only just help him,” Haefner said. “It helps us.”
While Durst’s book takes on a metaphorical adaptation of “The Children’s Melody,” his talk at First Light Books will embrace a very literal meaning, featuring a performance from the Austin Classical Guitar Youth Orchestra. Durst, an Austinite, mentioned that the talk at First Light feels like a full-circle moment.
“You spend years making these pictures,” Durst said. “You’re alone with your work. And it’s like, ‘Is anyone gonna like this?’ … (It’s nice) to see some kind confirmation (that) people enjoy this.”
The Guggenheim fellowship helps recipients propose and create a new artistic project. Durst said he hopes to focus on Texan megachurches, asking questions about faith, conformity and shame.
“Eli’s work is really important (for) introspection,” Haefner said. “In a contemporary way that I think is much beyond photography.”
