Pop culture merely consumerism

Published July 8, 2010 by admin

ASHLEY MARSHALL
OPINION

Culture is one of the hardest words to define because of its malleability. Looking around at contemporary Western society, I find myself wondering how culture has changed from some time in the distant past to now. With the passage of time, advancement of technology, and broadened acceptance of what the public deems “art”, it seems like authenticity has gone to the highest bidder.

Uncertainty, I think you’re trying to seduce me

Published July 8, 2010 by Peter Goffin

Peter Goffin
Executive Editor

I graduated. It sounds like a big deal. And in a lot of ways it was. I went to convocation, which was put on just for me, or we, the graduating class. I met the university’s chancellor, I shook his hand, I wore a robe, I got my picture taken. It was a good day. And it was supposed to be. I had graduated, I had crossed one of life’s defining planes.
I am told that pride is the recommended sentiment. And I feel it from time to time. I know some other people are proud of me, and that makes me prouder. But most days, I don’t feel any different, no different from the way I did before graduating. I’m out of class, I’m working, it feels just like any ordinary summer.

In defense of the classics

Published July 8, 2010 by admin

SARAH VISSERS
OPINION

Moviegoers today seek adventure and spectacle when they sit down in the cool and comfy Cineplex’s. Whether and action, horror or romantic comedy, a fast pace is required for a five star rating from them. Back in the day, it took something a bit more than the jolt of quick angle changes to get the attention and admiration from an audience.
Take the genre of the horror/thriller. There may have been some cheesy special effects, but for the most part, many of these films delved deeper than the “slasher” films of today. Not only was there blood, but a psychological angle that can freak out even the most stable veteran of the genre. One of my favorite filmmakers, the sensational Mr. Hitchcock, despite limited technology, made one of the biggest impressions on the genre in the history of movie magic. Nobody will ever forget Psycho; the movie starts with a different story than the rest of the film, distracting the viewer to make first murder a complete surprise.

Goodbye Dr. George, hello Dr. Deane

Published July 5, 2010 by kevin elliot

KEVIN ELLIOTT
OPINION

It is July and Patrick Deane is now officially the new president of McMaster University. The retirement of Deane’s predecessor, Peter George, has begun and as such, the McMaster community can begin to reflect properly on George’s time here now that it is formally over.
I think even George’s harshest critics can admit that they respect his authority as an educator and an administrator. They can respect his extraordinary ability to attract important and sizable donations to McMaster, and his ability to significantly expand and modernize the university during his 15 years as president, helping to turn Mac into one of the top research schools in the world.

Congratulations, it’s a newspaper

Published June 3, 2010 by Peter Goffin

Peter Goffin
Executive Editor

Ladies and gentlemen of the reading public, what you see here and in the surrounding pages are the first words of a newborn infant. The child in question is the eighty-first volume of the Silhouette. This is issue one. Cute, isn’t it? We couldn’t be prouder.
Now take a look at the genes for a moment, if you please. The Silhouette may appear to have our News Editor’s nose, our photographer’s eyes, and the Executive Editor’s great head of hair, but recognize one trait above all else: this newspaper has your voice. This is your baby. We the editors are essentially just nursemaids. We tend to it, nurture it, put it to bed each week, but in the end she’s all yours.

Hold on, it’ll get better… Or maybe not

Published June 3, 2010 by Peter Goffin

PETER GOFFIN
EXECUTIVE EDITOR

There will be losing streaks. There will be hard times. There will be days when, regardless of your intentions, regardless of how hard you try, you will fail. Life won’t be fun. You will lose a friend. An opportunity will pass you by. And it won’t be because you are bad. And it won’t be because you did anything wrong. Sometimes bad things just happen. But you must remember that it’s all an exercise in random cosmic chance.

You’re in the Internet, population 300 million

Published June 3, 2010 by kevin elliott

KEVIN ELLIOTT
SILHOUETTE STAFF

There is an episode of Futurama in which Fry, Bender and the crew go into the Internet to play Death Factory III. In the future, the Internet is essentially one giant shopping mall. The only difference is that in Futurama, everything in the Internet is either a shade of blue or green.
Once you’re in, your body is physically interacting in a three-dimensional world where you can walk around, go into different shops, play different games, and even go into chat rooms and meet with people, which I suppose means going into a coffee shop, sitting down and actually talking to people as if you could touch them in the flesh, except it’s virtual. You could have dates in the Internet and make new friends in the Internet, and if it doesn’t work out then that’s not a problem; you just walk away and exit the Internet. No repercussions, no rejection and no drama. At least none that are real. Well, I’ve got news for you: the world of the futuristic Internet is upon us. It’s called Facebook.

The real world

Published April 6, 2010 by jeff green

Are students customers?
It’s a simple question for which no one in the realm of academia has a real answer. We pay to earn a degree,… Continue Reading ›

Listen for those summer jams

Published April 1, 2010 by Peter Goffin

Corrigan Hammond
MUSIC EDITOR
Without fail, every summer there is that one song that’s absolutely everywhere. At first it’s great—almost refreshing. It is an opportunity to say… Continue Reading ›

Learning to love a 30-km run

Published April 1, 2010 by Peter Goffin

PHYLLIS TSANG

ASSISTANT INSIDEOUT EDITOR

Have you ever experience post-something depression? Like the post-Olympic depression many Canadian experienced. Or post-vacation depression? After spending a week or so with a group of people, I miss them terribly when the trip is over.