Back in college, there was a popular class called “Arts 15: Introduction to the popular performing arts” — otherwise known as the history of rock and roll. The professor was, shall we say, opinionated. One test question that is still stuck in my craw follows:
The greatest rock and roll band of all time was:
- The Who
- The Beatles
- The Rolling Stones
- Queen
His expected answer was “The Beatles”. I firmly disagree. It was the Stones.
Here is a poem I wrote at that time.
Arts Fifteen With
Professor Kelly
Arts Fifteen
What a drag?
Kelly mutters
On and on
About nothing
That’s really
Important.
Only opinions,
Professor,
your opinions;
For us to
Ingest,
Gestate, and,
Regurgitate
As if they
Were fact on
Your pointed
Examinations in
Arts Fifteen.
These are not
Facts which you
Preach to us
In One-eleven
Forum building,
Between 3:30
And 4:20 PM,
Monday, Wednesday,
And Friday–
Yet you test
Us to see
If we listen,
And accept
Your fucked up
Ideas about
The quality
Of popular
Performing arts.
Who died
And left you God?
s t e a d y 
Hmmm…what the hell kind of a test question is that? While I love The Beatles there is no right or wrong answer here. I can’t believe that you were expected to actually choose a “right” answer. That’s like asking what is the best way to make a steak or what is the best Rocky movie. My best won’t be the same as your best. What a pompous ass of a prof.
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Exactly!
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