22 Arts & Culture OVER THE EDGE November 7 - 21, 2007 Fuck Punk 30 Years of Sticking it to The Man... in Song fain W. Reeve THe Oruer Press (Doucias CoLLece) VANCOUVER (CUP) - Now, I understand the significance of the Sex Pistols, musically. They created a new sound that was edgy, abrasive and took all remaining preconceptions of what a musician or a band was, chewed them up, and vomited them back out. The only problem — in my opinion anyway — is that in the thirty years since it was birthed on the streets of London, punk has done little to grow, diversify, or actually do anything about the prob- lems it has made a living off of pointing out to disenfranchised kids. In fact, it has been so co-opted and watered down that it’s even difficult to determine what would constitute “selling out” anymore. My biggest problem with punk bands over the years is that they have been the most prolific perpetrators of one of my least favourite cultural crimes: outlining and complaining end- lessly about political and social problems through song and then doing absolutely sweet fuck all to actually solve them. directly involved in a cause is pathetically small compared to the number who simply strut around onstage singing empty lyrics like “fuck authority”. When you’re getting outdone by Bono, you know you’re in trouble. And if you’re going to just keep playing that same chord (I mean this both metaphorically and literally), at least push your genre to evolve so you can reach new people with the mes- sage, in hopes that they will do more than just get high and sit around complaining. about war and the police. But no, instead of doing this, punk stagnated, became more palatable to more people, and was then neutered and turned into the newest form of pop rock. And what was the response to this by those who opposed pop-punk? You guessed it, the same old three-chord, two- minute, screamy songs complaining about how so-and-so had sold out. Hey, at least the ones who sold out make enough money that they can probably afford to give some to charity, instead of spending all their time grabbing used couches out of people’s back alleys. My message here is that it takes more than a poorly tuned guitar, a lack of musical talent and a total disregard for your vocal chords to make change in the world. It also takes more than a can of spray-paint and a skateboard, because the only people who will absorb the message are those who already agree with you. You have to actually do something. Join a political group, go to a faraway country and volunteer, or — god forbid — ac- tually get involved in politics. Want to know why you think the government sucks so much? Because everyone who agrees with your perspective is too busy complaining about the government, getting high, and “rebelling” by buying the latest from Sum 41 to do anything about it. Some 30 odd years ago, when Johnny Rotten was yelling to a rabid crowd that he was an anarchist, he probably believed it. But after all this time, a best-selling book, tons of financial gain, and recently agreeing to sell the Sex Pistols back cata- logue to Universal Music, can we really believe that it is still so? When even the founding fathers are selling out, it’s time to take things in a new direction. Redefine the music, redefine the lifestyle, and redefine the call to action. Prove me wrong punk, prove me wrong. The number of punk musicians who have actually become An ldiot’s Guide to Teaching College By JENNIFER LANCASTER Nexus (Camosun Cot.ece) VICTORIA (CUP) - Are university instructors passionate about the courses they’re teaching? Do they encourage students to participate, ask Fy critical-thinking questions, and keep the course engaging? Or do they sit 4% behind the podium every day and recite points to be memorized for the next test? If the last question best reflects your instructor, consider buying them a copy of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Teaching College by Anthony D. Fredericks, and highlight the sections that need their attention. Fredericks uses 35 years of teaching experience to contribute to the § Complete Idiot’s Guide series with suggestions to keep classes from fo- Fe cusing on memory recall and textbook dependency. The book is well organized. The progression is logical and the topics don’t jump around. But the best way to read this book is to use it as a refer- ence guide by flipping to whichever section is necessary. Blis Fredericks’ main suggestions are repeated throughout the book, so they aren’t missed if there isn’t time to read it from cover to cover. There is heavy emphasis on active student learning through discussion and group work, and asking questions that require evaluation and analy- sis, rather than simple knowledge recall. This method makes the material interesting and relevant to students’ lives, and not just because it will be | on the test. The Idiot’s Guide to Teaching College is written for instructors, but it can also be used by students to ensure they’re receiving the best education for their buck. Want to know if an instructor is using low-level- or high-level-thinking questions? See the “Thinking about Thinking” chapter. Want to rate an instructor with more accurate descriptions than “okay,” “meh,” or “sucks”? Check out “Evaluation of Teaching”. Overall, however, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Teaching College is a useful reference, and can be used to attain the goals of students and instructors alike. Word in Subterfuge, by Haakon Sullivan Hint: Many words can make one. Makes A Roe Cocktail Answer to Jast one: BLOCK Becky Burxrup _ >>The answer will be in the next issue. CONTRIBUTOR A small water fall running from a stream at Rainbow Falls, McBride, BC.