Surf Culture

Surf culture involves the people, language, music, and lifestyle surrounding the sport of surfing. It all began with the Polynesians who brought about the initial culture, and later influenced a whole new generation of surfers in the 1950's and 60's after World War II, shaping the activity for what it is today. As more people surfed and practiced the traditions it became more popular throughout the world. The sport became and is still immensely popular in Hawaii, Australia, and California, where waves are more effective to surf on because of the climate. Serf terminology was most commonly used in these areas because of the multitude of people who surfed there. Slang terms, such as “stoked”, “tubular”, “radical”, and “gnarly” were used to describe the feelings they experienced while riding an exceptional wave. Surf music was a big hit during the flourishing era of surf as well. Popular artists such as Jan and Dean, The Beach Boys, The Surfaris, and The Ventures emerged. The music inspired little dance numbers like The Stomp, The Frug, and The Watusi. Modern music that surfers listen to today is by various artists that range from Jack Johnson and Tom Curren to Foster the People and Matt Costa. Apart from the culture that comes along with the activity, however, many center their lives on the mentality and lifestyle derived primarily from surfing


People who incorporate surf into their daily life value and view the activity more than just a sport. Surfing is really a way of seeking serenity from the bustle of daily life. It is a lifestyle that involves only three things: man, ocean, and surfboard. It is a way of connecting to one’s inner soul, feeling liberated, and belonging to something in this world all at the same time. Surfing made people feel alive after a specific time that heightened the dead. World War 2 finished, but the people’s lives just began, and they continue to this day through the exhilarating activity of surf.   

- "Surfing History." Extreme Horizon. N.p., n.d. Web.

"Surf Culture." Surfline. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.surfline.com/surfing-a-to-

z/surf-culture-explained_916/>.

Mother Courage: Using the Conventions of Epic Theater to Define War

Brecht's play, Mother Courage and All Her Children serves as a prime example of the many works that have been created throughout time to emphasize the significance of war. Using Epic Theater, Brecht clearly emphasizes the issues in war within the setting of the play and the time in which Brecht lived. The entire purpose of Mother Courage's construction was to display the errors in Brecht's society during World War II, which existed during The Thirty Years War as well. One of the issues was using war as a form of business and source for profit, which became an allegory for the main character, Mother Courage. Understandably, the character and her devotion to making money somewhat creates a perception of immorality, but progressively reveals the genuine role of a single mother to support her family. Her nickname "Courage", comes from this idea, since it is an honorable virtue to hold within times of war and survival. On the contrary, however, her children hold virtues that may be honorable, but harmful to the preservation of their lives. Within the following scene a clear foreshadowing of their inevitable doom is shown.

In scene one, Mother Courage predicts the destinies of her children through a fortune reading. Holding a helmet, metonymically which evokes a skull each child draws a lot. Tearing the parchments to these lots Courage notices the common outcomes for all her children, which is death. The allegory represents each child's selection of their fate, and how it will not only tear them away from their mother, but lead to their ultimate demise. Essentially the children's virtues of honesty, kindness, and bravery are honorable, but important to remember that when they are carried out individualistically they will have harmful effects. 

Bravery, honesty, and kindness are significant virtues that are highly valued in society until today, but seem to have the opposite effect of those who possessed them in the past. During times of war, strength in numbers was highly important to sustain a society of people who would otherwise be considered weak and broken. Being alone meant being feeble and poor, therefore portraying any signs of empowering traits still backfired and evidently caused the fatal future of Mother Courage's children. When conveying this idea it is particularly important to apply the conventions of Epic Theater within one's critical thought process in order to focus on the issues of society rather than the tragic death of characters in the story. Looking from within (context) to apply without (reality) is the specific goal of Epic Theater. Therefore, the idea of holding similar virtues collectively, applies to the same idea of working collectively during war for the common goal of gaining defeat.

When constructing a war, it is important to have two parties, which represent a common cause and contain large numbers of people ready to fight one another. Evidently, many people don't fight alone, especially in times of war because of the high probability of being defeated when opposed to large groups of people. Strength exists in numbers for this ultimate reason. No matter how strong one's mentality or attitude may be it can never be superior to that of a higher or more powerful authority, thus proving the value of virtues when held collectively in a society as opposed to being held individually.

Brecht, Bertolt, and H. R. Hays. Mother Courage. Place of Publication Not Identified: n.p., n.d. Print.