EDUPUNK Anthems?


Creative Commons License photo credit: bionicteaching

Spent most of the evening last night dancing around my living room with my two little nutballs (full clarification: that refers to my children, and they are very EDUPUNK šŸ˜‰ ) to the Weezer “Pork and Beans” video. I’ve never been a major Weezer fan, though I liked the Buddy Holly song, but that has all changed after this last stroke of genius. The video is a YouTube meme in the most self-reflexive of ways. It brings together all the YouTube phenomes that in mnay ways reflect the changing realities of the DIY media and our cultures sense of celebrity.

Every movement needs an anthem, and while this song may soon be played out, I will be the first to admit that it has been stuck in my head ever since the great Jerry Slezak tweeted it in on Friday. He followed up with a tweet about this post which lists all the YouTube videos referred to in this pop culture gem

[youtube width=”425″ height=”355″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muP9eH2p2PI[/youtube]

If that video doesn’t do it for you as an anthem, then I think the Teddybear’s “Punkrocker” featuring Iggy Pop may hit a chord or two (thanks for this one Mikhail).

I particularly like the following lines:

I’m listening to the music with no fear
You can hear it too if you’re sincere
‘Cause I’m a punk rocker, yes I am
‘Cause I’m a punk rocker yes I am

[youtube width=”425″ height=”355″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIiP-aAaupA[/youtube]

Update: Andy Rush just noted that this song is the backdrop to a Cadillac commercial, hmmmm —is that EDUPUNK?

But perhaps the most intense anthem I have come across since yesterday wasn’t a song, rather this post by Doug Noon I found via Stephen Downes’ OL Daily yesterday (he even referenced EDUPUNK in the write-up –how cool!). The post eulogizes the late, great Utah Phillips —I was particualrly moved by the discusion of the Chicago Conspiracy Trial transcripts, which Doug Noon notes was “a study in political theater” back in the 1960s. I was struck by the transcripts of this trial, and I am going to exceprt a bit of Abbie Hoffman’s testimony below, but go to Doug Noon’s Borderland to read the whole thing—definitely worth your time.

MR. WEINGLASS: Between the date of your birth, November 30, 1936, and May 1, 1960, what if anything occurred in your life?

THE WITNESS {Abbie Hoffman]: Nothing. I believe it is called an American education.

MR. SCHULTZ: Objection.

THE COURT: I sustain the objection.

THE WITNESS {Abbie Hoffman]: Huh.

MR. WEINGLASS: Abbie, could you tell the Court and juryā€“

MR. SCHULTZ: His name isnā€™t Abbie. I object to this informality.

MR. WEINGLASS: Can you tell the Court and jury what is your present occupation?

THE WITNESS {Abbie Hoffman]: I am a cultural revolutionary. Well, I am really a defendantā€”full-time.

MR. WEINGLASS: What do you mean by the phrase ā€œcultural revolutionary?ā€

THE WITNESS {Abbie Hoffman]: Well, I suppose it is a person who tries to shape and participate in the values, and the mores, the customs and the style of living of new people who eventually become inhabitants of a new nation and a new society through art and poetry, theater, and music.

That is so EDUPUNK!

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15 Responses to EDUPUNK Anthems?

  1. Sue F. says:

    Love the EDUPUNK frenzy that’s been running here. Great excerpt from Abbie – it’s bringing me back to my undergrad days when he and Amy Carter were arrested while protesting CIA campus recruitment at my alma mater. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amy_Carter

  2. Tom says:

    I don’t live to please you, I just want to walk the line -Get Some

    There’s a certain level of manic energy you might appreciate.

  3. any edupunk anthem must have the lines “I WANT TO KNOW!” and “I AM THE FUTURE!”

  4. Reverend says:

    @Sue,

    When I think of cultural revolutions and EDUPUNK, I can;t help put think about your work and class on late 20th century China –there is o much there and so much to think about in far wider framworks. I’ll be watching your EDUPUNK blog closely šŸ™‚

    @Tom
    “Inspiration don’t tell me that you got none left!” Beautiful work on the EDUPUNK poster, we are blowing them up and printing them out at DTLT, but now we need some really creative, imaginative artwork. Hmmmm, who can we turn to? I don’t know!

    @D’Arcy,

    I think you and me both know how we are waiting for to make the real EDUGLU anthem, in fact he may have already have made it: http://media.nmc.org/2008/04/mashup-un-artist.mp3

  5. Grant Potter says:

    Any remix has gotta have Iggy Pop’s line from Search and Destroy:

    “Look out honey, cause Im using technology
    Aint got time to make no apology”

  6. Marc says:

    How about Iiiiiiii’m so booooooorrrred with L-M-S….

  7. Reverend says:

    @Grant and Marc

    I think Iiiiiiiii’m so bored with the L-M-S would be an awesome cover for EDUPUNK, changed lyrics and everything šŸ™‚

  8. Doug Noon says:

    Hey Jim,

    Thanks for the link and nomination for my post as an edupunk anthem. Since you and Stephen Downes showed some appreciation for the Yippie stories, I put up another post about the Yippie movement, looking at possible connections to edupunk.

    Enjoying this meme,

    Doug

  9. Alec Couros says:

    One of my favourite all-time punk rock songs come from older AFI.

    http://youtube.com/watch?v=OfM7x9d6avg

    I won’t be sedated is my educational battle cry. Give me the disorder I adore!

    Full Lyrics:
    What was it I was thinking, or was I even thinking at all?
    When I think of what I thought back then, then I’m ashamed,
    and I’m appalled that I gave up all I was so easily.
    Living your life is not for me.
    I won’t be sedated, I won’t be sedated!
    Give me a little taste and I know I won’t want more.
    I won’t be sedated, stability is overrated.
    Give me the disorder I adore.
    What was it you were thinking, or were you even thinking at all?
    When I think of what you thought of me, I take offense,
    and I’m appalled that you could discount all I love so easily.
    Living your life is not for me.
    I won’t be sedated, I won’t be sedated!
    Give me a little taste and I know I won’t want more.
    I won’t be sedated, stability is overrated.
    Give me the disorder I adore.
    I can’t be a part, be a part, I can’t be a part.
    I can’t be a part, be a part of your modern world.
    I’ve gotta be apart, be apart, I’ve gotta be apart.
    I’ve gotta be apart. I can’t grasp the values that you hold.
    I can’t be a part, be a part, I can’t be a part.
    I can’t be a part, be a part of your modern world.
    I’ve gotta be apart, be apart, I’ve gotta be apart.
    I’ve gotta be apart. I can’t grasp the values that you hold.
    I can’t be a part, be a part, I can’t be a part.
    I can’t be a part, be a part of your modern world.
    I’ve gotta be apart, be apart, I’ve gotta be apart.
    I’ve gotta be apart. I can’t grasp your value

  10. Scott Leslie says:

    One of my favs, the oft overlooked Irish greats Stiff Little Fingers, and a great tune, Suspect Device (wonder what that could refer to):

    Inflammable material is planted in my head
    It’s a suspect device that’s left 2000 dead
    Their solutions are our problems
    They put up the wall
    On each side time and prime us
    And make sure we get fuck all
    They play their games of power
    They mark and cut the pack
    They deal us to the bottom
    But what do they put back?

    Don’t believe them
    Don’t believe them
    Don’t be bitten twice
    You gotta suss, suss, suss, suss, suss out
    Suss suspect device

  11. Alec Couros says:

    STF one of the all-time greatest! Great reference Scott!

    So many great tunes, Alternative Ulster, Nobody’s Hero and Gotta Getaway would also be good candidates for EduPunk themes.

    Some great STF live pieces on Youtube:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aV5eKr4uorg

  12. peter naegele says:

    “Carpe Diem” – The Fugs

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