Rock music in Canada, it seems, doesn’t get the respect it deserves as some musicians such as fellow countryman Danko Jones and others lament. If one delves into the demonic and despondent end of the cacophonous canon, a bum rap in the mainstream press is almost a fait accompli. Industrial-tinged thrashers Threat Signal feel the media's indignation. Jon Howard, founding vocalist remains cognizant of the fact that metal will always stay somewhere lurking underground supported by a legion of fans who reject the easy path of flicking on a radio or clinging to ephemeral fads. But he doesn’t believe rock music isn’t garnering esteem in the Canadian popular consciousness. However, “metal on the other hand is a bit harder [to catch on], just like anywhere I would imagine,” Jon professes.
Collaborative Essay Project: Leticia's Contributions
In this post I present the work of my collaborator Leticia Supple on the critical examinations of rock journalism essay project. Leticia was the founder of MetalAsFuck.net and is a blogger, copywriter, editor and music journalist that resides in Adelaide, Australia.
The essays of Leticia Supple
The State of Play: balancing critical rock journalism with demands for content
Using the Force… or not. The place of publicity in contemporary music criticism
Studies in Criticism… or books versus trade
Remember to keep up with all our essays using the essay project tag here.
Thesis Diary #13: The Debrief
Yesterday I steeled myself against the wind to solemnly march into Tony Moore's office for my thesis mark. I could see bare parts of his desktop for the first time to which I remarked "Wow, I didn't even know your desk was made out of wood!"
He ignored mounting e-mails and handed me a miniature novel of examiner's comments regarding my thesis. Agonizing in what felt like a Oakeshottian duration of dithering, he finally announced that I had gained a distinction for my efforts.
A sigh of relief. I did far better than I expected.
Tony was supremely supportive of the mark; he knew it lay within me to achieve a high distinction and I agreed. He was impressed considering that I'd never taken honors classes (which apparently teach one to write in the academic style requisite for such long tasks) and that my previous degree was from outside the field of communications and journalism. He complimented me on my academic rigor despite these deficiencies and praised me as a "good writer"; I felt very humbled by it.
The comments and tips Tony bestowed will prove valuable for my book project with Leticia Supple on rock journalism. Some even provided additional sources such as a thorough BBC documentary on rock journalism that was screened in 2009 - which came as a surprise to both Tony and I!
As I left, he wished me luck, saying: "Remember to invite me to the book launch."
I shook his hand and smiled. "Mate, you're at the top of the list."