Southern Illinois University - Obelisk Yearbook (Carbondale, IL)

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Iused to have a pattern shaved into the back of my hair, a zig-zag. It was a lfavorlgiuen to me by a friend for the sake of fashion. The pattern which emerged from under the scis- sors resembled a series of v-shaped irrigation ditches running from the middle of my scalp toward my ears. To those unaccustomed to such Chic, I must have looked like Ifre- quently engaged in domestic violence or like I had had at least one good beating. Fashion of this kind may be drastic for a southern Illinois college town, but in a more fashion conscious en- vironment such a hairstyle would be in step, if not a step behind. Features

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Features photo by Brian Howe' photo by Doug Janvnn ing off pounds. A major source of the dance craze was nationally syndicated programs like Richard Simmons combination exercise and diet show and books like J ane Fondals workout book. It took ten years of development for a small leather sack tilled with beans, beads and other assorted goodies to work its way east from Oregon and ; become popular at SIU-C. In what could be described as the thacky sack syndromef this craze swept Carbondale and other cam- puses as the fall term began and was still going strong at presstime. The objective of the game is to keep the footbag from hitting the ground. The 'way one achieves this goal involves the entire lower body. Games range from a solo endeavor all the way up to group events known as haCky circles. While there have been no set guidelines as to time limit and number of players, one standard has been set; keeping the sack air- borne as long as possible. Kenny photo by John Racine Shultz holds the national record of more than two hours. It was fashionable to take advan- tage of the free enterprise system through parodies. Parodies of any- thing and everything were abundant. The spoofery literally littered the land, so much of it was around that one might safely assume that nothing is sacred. From the Off The Wall Street Jour- nal to books like Real Men Donlt Eat Quiche; the market has beeen flooded with buck making books, mags and gags. ttGood parody lays waste to some of the stupidity and arrogance that goes on all about us, says Robert Vare, a 37-year-old comedy writer who lives off of parodies. Of all the crazes this one requires no amount of good taste or scruples. The rash of take-offs have led to a multi-million dollar industry. Any- thing that can be made fun of can be turned into a profit. El

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Itfs hard not to look at the media and around the streets to see new wave fashion as the pervasive trend it is: even in Carbondale. Experimenting with music, dress and dance are vital to this trendls development. Some may label these experimenters punk rockers, new wavers or just weird. This trend has, undoubtedly, been influenced by ilnew music? This new sound has, however, become increas- ingly difficult to iind in Carbondale. Most of the local and area radio stations are dedicated to a predomi- nately top-4O programming mix, rejecting the less restricted album format that existed in Carbondale a few years ago. However, top-40 is exactly what these people want. They seek an alternative that is more bold and full of more energy. SIU-C,s student station, WIDB, remains dedicated to the policy of bringing good alternative sounds to listeners, says music director Ken Krause. Krause thinks that there is a deii- nite punk scene in Carbondale, but describes it as iisort 0f contrived? tiThe attitude is not really there and it canlt be. The attitude for true punk rock has to emanate from a source. iiTrue punkers are those who are iinancially deprived, and are angry about the way they are forced to live? . he said. iiHere its just middle-class boys and girls having fun? WIDB doesn,t play the hard-core punk sound of bands like Black Flag and Throbbing Gristle, he says, but does give more airplay t0 the com- mercial sound of Romeo Void and X, which he believes represents more of what listeners want to hear. Movements like punk rarely rejoice, yet there is a certain joy in collective bitching, collective recognition of l frustration. The joy comes in the re- , lease of both aggression and frustra- New wave dancing is less restric- tive than its predecessor, punk. Frequently, dancers can be seen running around the dance floor and slam dancing; a form that, some believe, is both highly controlled and highly creative. Features tion. Primitive forms of dancing were the perfect vehicles. The pogo consists of jumping up and down and shaking all over, is very close to a temper tan- . trum in attitude. With the exception of four bars, however, Carbondale fails to supply enough clubs that cater to the new wave audience. Dress is perhaps the most impor- tant aspect of new wave. Those in- volved with new wave step outside the bounds of conventionalism by . either a commercial new wave look or simply by sporting something un- usual and original. One employee of a vintage clothing store in Carbondale, said many peo- ple come in looking for something punk and leave with something unusual and outlandish. Unusual clothes can often be found at thrift shops, according to Yvette LeTourneaux, known to friends as a unique dresser and often labeled a ipunkerl by those who see her on the street. LeTourneaux said that she gets most of her clothes from her grand- mother and thrift shops. ltMost of the things I wear are older but you could call them vintage, she said. Unique hairstyles can also be seen in Carbondale and have been a vital part of achieving a head-tuming look. The trend has reverted back to a six- ties vogue known as the spike. Spiked hair stands up, forming points or spikes at the top of the head. Aside from shaping your hair it is impor- tant that one finds a color that best reflects his or hers feelings. Colors vary from shades of purple and red to green. Allen Weisman, though he is not a participant in the new wave move- ment, sees the entire attitude and look as an ttintellectual movement that focuses on avant-garde self expression? Steve Rush, a senior in public rela- tions, agrees. tiTheirels a definite sub- culture of new wave which has a more realistic set of ideals? he said. tiBut I don,t think its quite as strong as punk was. Punk was a total lifestyle? El