Coastal Carolina University professor Scott Pleasant will give a talk on the "Ukulele Renaissance" on Wednesday, March 18 at 7 p.m. at the University's Waccamaw Higher Education Center in Litchfield. The event is free and open to the public.

The discussion is part of "Creativity and Conflict," the University's seventh annual series designed to involve the community with faculty members in public discussions on important issues.

Pleasant, a lecturer of English, will discuss the ukulele from its birth to is current "renaissance," a resurgence in popularity in recent years.

The session will include a presentation on the instrument's history, a display of noteworthy and unusual ukulele collections, and a ukulele performance by faculty and community members. Pleasant will display a large collection of 25 ukuleles of all sizes and styles and give an audio-visual presentation on the history and development of the ukulele and its three main periods of its popularity: early 20th century, mid-century and current time. The session will close with a performance of a selection of well known ukulele songs in various styles and periods.

Pleasant teaches business and professional communication, composition and American literature courses for the University's Department of English, as well as tennis for the Department of Physical Education. He has also played the guitar and bass for many theater productions and performs with Virtue Trap, the University's faculty rock band.

The series is sponsored by the Board of Visitors of the Thomas W. and Robin W. Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts.

For more information, call 843-349-2421.