Home Blog Page 827

SFU Advocacy for Men and Boys hosts open discussion of alleged gender bias in the Canadian legal system

By
EIC
-
7
The four panelists from left to right: Diana Davison, Don Dutton, Georgialee Lang, and Carey Linde.

The SFU Advocacy for Men and Boys (SFUAMB) club hosted a free event, “The Accusation is the Verdict: Is Canada’s legal system anti-male?” on June 17 at Harbour Centre. The event was sponsored by the Canadian Association for Equality (CAFE) Vancouver, and hosted a four-person panel to discuss anti-male legal biases in Canadian society.

The panel included two lawyers: Carey Linde, a lawyer with 40 years of experience who pushed  for shared parenting in Canada; and Georgialee Lang, with 25 years of experience and the winner of the 2010 Best Canadian Legal Blog award for her blog, Lawdiva.

Also on the panel was Dr. Don Dutton, PhD in Social Psychology and a tenured professor at UBC. Dutton has researched and reported on the need for police to be trained in dealing with domestic disturbances,  and has published more than 120 peer-reviewed articles. Legal activist and YouTuber Diana Davison, who has focussed on gender equality and feminism in the legal system, was also on the panel. The panel was moderated by lawyer George Balabanian, whose specializations include gender and political theory.

The discussion focused primarily on family law, including custody disputes, divorce proceedings, domestic abuse cases, and disparities in legal aid resources provided by the government. The panel also tackled men and crime, gendered violence, and how men are treated by the courts.

When asked, “Is Canada’s legal system anti-male?” Dutton remarked, “I don’t know, but I have my suspicions.” He challenged what he saw as the misconception that men are always perpetrators and women are always blameless victims in domestic abuse, saying it is “not supported by research data.”

He also pointed out that men face 63 percent longer prison sentences in the US than women for the same crime. “Everything is perceived differently” when different genders perform the same criminal act, he said.

Davison focused primarily on public perceptions of the legal system, and the “court of public opinion.” She noted more high-profile cases are becoming subject to media opinion, regardless of what courts decide, exemplified by the cases of Jian Ghomeshi and Brock Turner, where calls for extrajudicial punishment have resonated on Twitter. She said that public faith in the legal system is very important, warning the audience of the emergence of “journalists [who] decide they’re cops” not reporting real facts because they “don’t make for good headlines,” in her opinion.

Lang discussed the challenges men face in family courts. Many fathers are “lucky to see their kids four times a month” following divorces, she said. When accused of domestic violence in family courts, “the burden of proof is on the accused [men],” a point echoed by Linde.

Linde challenged gender biases in Canadian society and the legal system. There is a general misconception, Linde claimed, that fathers are innately worse caregivers than mothers. This belief that a father is a passive bystander in childcare is reflected in the Supreme Court of Canada, when in the case of Young v. Young (1993), Justice Claire L’Heureux-Dubé wrote, “men as a group have not yet embraced responsibility for childcare.”

SFUAMB president Jesse Velay-Vitow thanked the SFSS for their support in hosting the event, as he said that SFU administration had requested the event be cancelled or postponed, although did not elaborate why.

He expressed his hopes for future collaboration with other SFU groups, like the Women’s Centre, who were invited but it seemed that none attended. He argued that both groups work to promote equality, and that gains for men are not losses for women. Both groups have “so much in common,” said Velay-Vitow.

Overwatch is the perfect online multiplayer for casual gamers

By
EIC
-
0
Much of Overwatch’s appeal comes from its fantastic cast of characters.

Overwatch has only been out for a month, and it’s already a phenomenon.

The online first-person shooter, developed by Blizzard Entertainment of World of Warcraft fame, is that rare video game that has managed to find its way into the pop culture mainstream. Even non-gamers will likely have considered shelling out 80 bucks for a game with no single-player campaign, which in itself is a small victory. But where Overwatch really succeeds is its accessibility: this is truly a game that almost anyone can enjoy.

Much of what makes the game so approachable to gamers both diehard and casual is its delightfully diverse cast of 21 different characters, or “heroes,” each with a unique set of weapons and playstyles. Though ostensibly separated into four distinct classes, no two characters are alike: each one has its own strengths and weaknesses, meaning that players from a variety of different backgrounds are sure to find at least a few heroes whose playstyle gels with theirs.

It doesn’t hurt that each hero is also insanely likeable, to the point where Overwatch has already inspired more fanart and fanfiction in one month than most games accumulate in years. There’s the game’s mascot Tracer, a peppy Brit who can teleport and go backwards in time; Reaper, a sullen, ghostly shooter with a gruff vocal delivery; and D.Va, a Korean gamer who pilots a pink mech straight out of the Gundam series and even pokes fun at the game’s mechanics. (During her final move, which can destroy near every enemy in sight, she boasts: “Nerf this!”)

The other 18 heroes are all equally magnetic and near-perfectly balanced. The fact that Overwatch allows you to switch between them mid-game allows players to constantly update their strategies. This also gives the game a sense of endless replayability: even though there’s only three different modes, no two matches feel alike.

All of this complexity can seem pretty intimidating to casual gamers, especially those who aren’t used to online multiplayers like Call of Duty or Halo. But where those games emphasize individual achievements, Overwatch instead encourages players to do something almost unheard of in modern games: work together.

Helpfully, the game’s character selection screen includes gentle hints on how to build a balanced team that will lead you to victory, all of whom must work in tandem rather than going it alone. Teams that are well-balanced with cohesive game plans tend to be more successful, while lone wolves are quickly picked off.

Where a lot of modern online games trumpet team building and collaboration, Blizzard has truly built it into the DNA of their newest title: players who help their team the most will get a shoutout at the end of the match, and their teammates can vote to give standout players special rewards. This also means that players who contribute by blocking damage or healing get as much attention as the heavy hitters.

It’s this emphasis on positive feedback and team dynamics that makes Overwatch the kind of game that players of all backgrounds and skill levels can enjoy. And it’s the same reason that I’ve barely been able to put it down since I first picked it up.

Five reality shows that deserve a comeback

By
EIC
-
0
Even years later, these shows would be able to bring a freshness to a stale genre.

By: Vincent Justin Mitra, Peak Associate

Reality shows tend to get a bad reputation. They’re called repetitive, vapid, self-indulgent, and inauthentic; shallow popularity contests for the simple-minded. 

While that may be true of some or many of the reality shows that have come and gone, there is the occasional outlier: a show that turns the genre on its head, or avoids the clichés, or just has a fascinating premise.

Sadly, these shows are often short-lived, so here is a list of five reality shows that desperately deserve a comeback.

1. The Joe Schmo Show (2003–2013)

A fake reality show wherein all the contestants but one are actors playing clichéd reality show archetypes.

As much a social experiment as reality show, it was initially planned to focus on mocking the one ‘real’ contestant. However, the showrunners quickly realized that the audience would feel sympathy for the contestant because he was a genuinely nice person, and the plan for the show was altered in his favour.

This show is the rare breed of reality show that knowingly deconstructs and mocks the idea of reality shows, drawing attention to the artifice and the repetitiveness of the genre.

2. True Beauty (2009–2010)

A fashion/modelling reality show which (secretly) focused on inner beauty rather than physical beauty.

Each episode the contestants were made to participate in a largely irrelevant modelling challenge while also unintentionally participating in a challenge that judged their kindness, generosity, and so on.

The show was far from perfect. It still put a lot of focus on traditional beauty, and the contestants were as cut-throat and backbiting as those on any other beauty reality show.

But the acknowledgment of the hostile attitude seen in both reality television and the modelling industry — and the attempt to work against that trend — was refreshing.

3. Kid Nation (2007)

Forty children, ages eight to 15, were set up in an abandoned ghost town in the deserts of New Mexico, to work and live there for 40 days and create a functional society.

The children were given jobs around the town while also participating in team challenges to win either a fun or useful prize to be added to the town. One successful challenge had them deciding between television sets and additional outhouses, for example.

This show was notable in part because of the controversial premise — which prompted a number of legal investigations — but primarily because of the optimistic idea of gathering children from around the United States of various ages and of diverse racial and cultural backgrounds to work together and support each other as a community.

4. The Colony (2009–2010)

Ten strangers with various skills are forced to live together in a warehouse while experiencing the struggle to survive in a (simulated) apocalypse.

Participants needed to provide for themselves in a lot of basic ways that most take for granted in contemporary Western society: collecting clean water and generating power, sourcing and rationing food, personal hygiene, and security.

The depiction of using practical skills to solve potential problems was compelling. It was also fascinating to see how invested in the scenario the participants became, with every member of the group literally and honestly devastated when one participant mysteriously vanished during a supply run.

5. The Mole (2001–2008)

In The Mole, contestants competed in challenges to add money into a prize pot, if completed successfully.

One was the Mole and secretly working against the team, sabotaging the challenges. At the end of each episode, the contestants were asked questions about the Mole’s identity to test their deductive and observational skills. The player with the lowest score was removed from the game.

The audience also did not know the identity of the Mole, allowing those at home to play along. Each episode would give clues which, if correctly interpreted, would hint towards the true Mole. Some of the clues were bullshit.

Gang Signs strike it rich at Fortune Sound Club

By
EIC
-
0
Tapping into passion and outside inspiration hasn't held them back despite not going to school for music.

With their fresh new record, Geist, the band tapped into their horror movie knowledge and paid homage to classic films such as David Croenenberg’s The Fly. The songs smoothly transition from one to the other, with an electronic/new wave sound and a laid-back vibe.

Gang Signs features Peter Ricq, Adam Fink, and Matea Sarenac. On the record, the three musicians grasp at the darkness surrounding the album and bury their sound in it. When playing live though, this trio likes to take things to a slightly happier, more dance-friendly club vibe. The only real exception to their theme is “Tonight,” which was Sarenac’s turn at writing lyrics and melody.

It was a fan favourite at the show, and is also one of the group’s favourite tunes to play in front of an audience. Their live set is a happy mix between their self-titled EP and Geist, which satisfies fans’ cravings for either one. According to Ricq, “Fans ask which one we’re playing that night [and] I reply ‘both,’ so you’ve got to buy both CDs.”

Not a bad business strategy.

All three members have been involved in music from a young age. Ricq grew up learning how to play piano, which he hated, before trying out the bass in high school; Sarenac joined an all-girl pop group named Mystique; and Fink toured around the world after learning to play the drums in his teens.

Although none of the members sought structured training in music — Sarenac remarked that the closest she came to taking music classes was vocal training during her Mystique days — the crowd that came out to support them at Fortune Sound Club proves that you don’t need to have a degree to do something well.

Despite not having gone to school for music, they all agree that it’s not a bad route to take. “[Touring is] like a different kind of music. It’s different when you’re playing in a band for a very long period of time. Especially when you’re on tour because you’re playing the same material all the time for a couple years, and so it doesn’t feel like you’re really growing as a player. Like, the band gets better, I think, but as an individual player, no . . . unless you have time for that,” Fink said.

“Anybody who’s gone to school for music producing, they learn everything about queuing and mastering and sound and how to not make a mix muddy and all that. For me, I’ve been producing music for, I don’t know, 15 years now, and some kids who just did school for like two years are producing way cleaner music than I could ever do. So I would’ve gone [to school for music] if I could [have],” Ricq added.

Fink’s drumming was spot-on during their hour-long set, as were Sarenac’s harmonizing vocals and lead work on “Tonight.” Ricq’s purposeful monotone wove in and out of their sound seamlessly.

They’re currently on tour across Canada, but once that wraps up, they’re heading back to the studio to start work on their next release. Ricq already has some ideas floating around, and is just itching to see what they evolve into.

If they sound like your style, catch them at the Khatsahlano Street Party on July 9.

Album Reviews

By
Peak Web
-
0

By: Courtney Miller and Tessa Perkins

Michael Franti & Spearhead – Soulrocker

This ninth album from Michael Franti & Spearhead is a collection of socially conscious tunes and upbeat danceable tracks that will make you want to get up and groove — and make the world a better place while you’re at it.

The first single, “Crazy for You,” is a joyful track written for Franti’s wife Sara, about love keeping us grounded amidst a crazy world. “Good to Be Alive Today” is another standout that has a more sombre tone with direct references to the tragic events we hear about in the news, climate change, and the general state of our world. Despite this, the song promotes gratitude for all the good in the world and presents a hopeful message for positive change.

“We Are All Earthlings” reminds us that we’re all in this together and we need to work together and love each other. With its dance beats and build-up to a nice breakdown, this song would be at home in a nightclub or your next house party. For a sunnier summertime track, “Summertime is in Our Hands” does the trick for backyard barbecues or lazy beach days.

Full of infectious rhythms and thought-provoking, political lyrics, Franti’s rhymes roll naturally off the tongue. When he sings about important issues, you feel compelled to listen and care. –TP

Keith Urban – Ripcord

Ripcord is Keith Urban’s latest country offering, and features his signature chill guitar licks. However, the eclectic combination of featured artists such as Carrie Underwood, Pitbull, and Nile Rodgers makes for an odd creation.

The album’s entirely formulaic — Urban’s been using the same method for years now.  At the same time though, Ripcord’s enjoyable, and even seems to branch out a bit despite Urban maintaining his style. There’s an electronic and sometimes pop-like undercurrent to the new album. I’d call it his most experimental record to date: an upbeat collection that’s got energy to spare.

“Gone Tomorrow (Here Today)” is a tribute to Urban’s late-father. Pitbull’s collaboration, “Sun Don’t Let Me Down,” has the rapper shouting “Mr. Worldwide” in the midst of the song and, well, it’s good that Urban also recorded a Pitbull-less version. If we wanted rap, we’d get some.

All in all, it’s another great addition to Urban’s discography that’ll satiate country fans until the next one arrives. –CM

Tegan and Sara – Love You to Death

It’s hard to believe that Love You to Death is Tegan and Sara’s eighth album. They’re still cranking out the electro-indie-pop we know and love, but there is a sophistication and maturation that shines through.

Like most of their work, the ups and downs of relationships past provide the fuel for their music. Though some casual listeners may complain that they always write about the same things, I think it’s important that they write about their experiences and that there’s a sense of honesty in their work.

Take “Boyfriend,” the only official single from the album thus far. Anyone — queer people especially —  who has served as the experimental relationship or “test drive” of a questioning person can identify with it. Finding that recognition is never a bad thing.

However, “That Girl” might be the best song on the album. There’s a playful tone to the keyboard, a majesty to the bridge, and an intelligent discussion lyrically. All in all, it’s a mature, nuanced pop album. –CM

SFU athlete will chase Olympic gold

By
EIC
-
0
While looking indecisive here, Cameron Proceviat is committed to chasing Olympic gold.

For Cameron Proceviat, the dilemma isn’t “Olympics vs Med School”, as other sources have reported. He intends on attending medical school once he’s “done with running”.

SFU’s track and field captain and Molecular Biology and Biochemistry (MBB) major could pursue both options.

Proceviat was an 2015-2016 NCAA All-American in the indoor 800-meter and also has a 3.90 GPA (out of 4.33), earning him the 2016 Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) Scholar-Athlete of the Year, making him the first SFU athlete, male or female, to receive the award.

The self-described “late bloomer” started as a walk-on with SFU’s track and field team five years ago. His personal drive and encouragement from his family pushed him to always aim higher. Proceviat’s season best 1:49.28 in the 800 metres is No. 2 on the GNAC all-time list and his 1,500-metre best of 3:46.47 ranks No. 4.

“Breakthroughs happen at different times for different people”, Proceviat told The Peak. “Focus on your own improvement, even if you’re a late bloomer. [Success] won’t be as sudden or as big.” This spring, Proceviat was also named by SFU as the recipient of the Bill Devries Award for all-around male athlete of the year.

Proceviat said he would encourage students to “not give up, but there was a time when I did give up.” He said after being a good runner in elementary school, he tried it again in grade 9 and he “wasn’t very good and wasn’t enjoying it.”

“I never really gave [running] a try until grade 12, mostly because my mom pushed me.” She suggested he try running again, after playing seven different sports like soccer and rugby for his high school, Moscrop Secondary.

“I never really focussed on a single sport before track,” he just played for fun. “My favourite thing to do is play sports.” Proceviat thinks his success in track was partly thanks to his focus on a single sport once he attended SFU.

“The either or [reports] were misleading”, said Proceviat . “My plan right now is to compete for one more year and try to make the World University Games next summer… and assess whether the [2020] Olympics is an achievable goal [. . .] I don’t know if ‘or’ was the right word.”

Medical school had always been Proceviat’s goal since he was little. Not only would he love the opportunity to be a doctor and help people but it’s also a personal goal. “I’ve always looked at myself and tried to achieve the highest thing possible.”

Proceviat said that with the ability and the opportunity to attend medical school SFU has given him, if he didn’t attend then he would be “letting [himself] down.”

 

Prof reflects on EURO 2016 using big data

By
EIC
-
0
Spain's soccer team is seen celebrating their victory at UEFA Euro 2012.

The 2016 UEFA European Championships are generating a worldwide buzz, with millions of people tuning in to watch every game. With so much at stake, it’s no surprise that analytics and big data are becoming a more important part of the decision process, according to SFU professor Dr. Peter Chow-White.

“Big data has become a really interesting touch point for people in different organizations and institutions to rethink how they create knowledge, how they create data, and how they use data to make decisions,” said Dr. Chow-White. “Sports is no different.

“Soccer was one of the earlier ones that got into it. Some of the earlier places like [AC] Milan have R&D departments that have been using data and different types of analytics in order to understand their players’ performance, recovery, all sorts of things. So it’s become an integral part of sports.”

With a high volume of information now available to these teams, the challenge is how to use it effectively.

“They want to be able to evaluate players in terms of making trades in the management point of view, but you [have] also got the coaches on the other side that want to evaluate performance either in practice and on the field, to make better decisions and have more intelligence in applying to the next game or their practices or whatever strategy they’re trying to create.”

Many teams may be using numbers in the decision-making process, but determining which teams are using them heavily and how they are using them is difficult.

“Sports is very secretive in terms of what they do and how they analyze things,” Dr. Chow-White explained. “So getting an inside look into what’s happening is very difficult. Most of what we know is on the outside except for those who have done research on these areas and have gotten inside different places.”

One of the challenges that soccer has in using numbers to make decisions is that it is a “continuity sport with low catalytic outcomes,” according to Dr. Chow-White. This means that there are not many stoppages in play such as basketball and baseball, and there are few events in it that drive play towards a winner.

“There’s lots to track, [in basketball and baseball] there’s lots of mini games, and there is lots of outcomes. Soccer and hockey are different, and I think the impact in those games is different on those sports than something like basketball or baseball.”

Dr. Chow-White also cautions teams not to invest fully in analytics and big data just yet.

“I don’t think that companies or teams should be spending a ton of money on this. Most of what happens in the game of soccer is [based on] what coaching decisions are made, player personnel, those are where the big things are. You got a Ronaldo on your team? It doesn’t matter what [you] do, he’s going to score goals.”

So what is Dr. Chow-White’s prediction for the winner of the 2016 EUROs?

“I’m going to go with whoever the superstars are playing with. You can have the best analytical team in the world, but if you don’t have the player personnel, then it’s not going to make the type of difference one would expect in terms of wins and losses.”

The Crank Files: 2Pac and Kimbo Slice are alive in Cuba

By
EIC
-
0

This month we lost legendary MMA fighter Kimbo Slice — or at the very least, that’s what the media wants us to think.

This former street fighter turned MMA pro reportedly died due to heart failure. To that, I say bullshit. Pictures, taken by an anonymous fellow traveller in hidden truths, show Slice drinking margaritas in Havana, Cuba with none other than long-lost rapper Tupac Shakur.

Now those of us in the uncomfortable truth-telling biz have always known ‘Pac never really died but instead faked his own demise. For years though, we were called crazy by his family and friends, the authorities, and mental health professionals alike. But with photographic proof that can 100 percent be authenticated, we now know ‘Pac is indeed alive, along with Kimbo Slice. The question is: what are they doing and why did they fake their deaths? Now, this required some digging.

For years we have known that ‘Pac’s final album Don Killuminati was a testament of his agenda to resist Illuminati control. Recent leaked satellite photos from the National Security Agency reveal that former training grounds used by the Cuban military in the 1960s are seeing new activity. Troop manoeuvres, military engineering, and active missile silos — it’s foolproof logic of an anti-Illuminati resistance army being trained, and not as some would suggest merely old photos of Cuban activity in 1962 during the Missile Crisis.

Did ‘Pac help Kimbo fake his death so as to provide combat training for the anti-Illuminati army? It seems highly likely, as every great leader needs a general. Roosevelt had Patton, Churchill had Montgomery, and now Shakur has Slice. The Illuminati should be on their toes, because the liberation is coming quick, buddy. Say your prayers, you Illuminatus shills, and Hail Mary!

A love letter to those with mental illness

By
EIC
-
0

[dropcap]H[/dropcap]ey there. My name is Max, and if you’re reading this then I love you.

For years, I’ve struggled with depression and anxiety. This past month, that struggle has become the defining factor of my life. My doctor calls it a relapse. I call it a marathon.

Initially I had misgivings about writing this down for a student population of 35,000 to read, but I changed my mind based on two key realizations: 1) That I always feel better when I read about others opening up about their battles with mental illness, and I might as well return the favour; and 2) That I’m already living with this thing every day, so there’s no use lying about it, either to myself or anyone else.

My experience with mental illness has been unique, and it’s not my intention to paint with broad strokes or compare my pain with anyone else’s. Depression, for me, has been mostly centred around fear. Fear that I’ll always feel this way. Fear that I’ll never enjoy anything again. Fear that I’ll push away those whom I love the most. Fear that they never liked me much in the first place. Fear that I’ll lose everything I’ve worked so hard to accomplish, or that none of it ever really mattered anyway.

Last month, I celebrated my 23rd birthday in the back of my parent’s van, barely able to communicate through sobs. I’m not the kind of person who cries — even the ending of Toy Story 3 left me dry-eyed. But there in the backseat, being driven away from the job I love because I could barely concentrate or keep myself from panicking, I knew I was in a bad place.

I’m sure many readers will empathize. Mental illness is incredibly common: about 20 percent of Canadians will experience some form of mental illness in their lifetime, and eight percent of those will battle major depression. (These stats are likely lowball estimates, given the number of people who never report their struggles.)

There in the backseat, unable to keep myself from panicking, I knew I was in a bad place.

Young people in particular face an uphill climb, as suicide accounts for roughly a quarter of the death rate among those aged 15–24. Yet only about half of those living with anxiety or depression will ever reach out to a professional.

Though people from all walks of life can and do experience mental illness, certain groups are particularly at risk, including Aboriginal, LGBTQ, and immigrant populations. Students are also at particular risk of mental illness, given the toxic mix of high stress and low incomes that is such a big part of university life.

It’s not my intention to discourage you by sharing these numbers. In fact, here’s one statistic that might actually make you feel better: a whopping 80 percent of those who receive treatment for their depression end up seeing pronounced benefits. That so few people seek out help when they need it — especially given that this help is usually effective — is deeply saddening.

Which brings me back to you.

You may be battling stress you think you can’t handle, or fighting mental illness silently, afraid of the rejection and humiliation you might face by sharing it. You may be telling yourself that you’ll never be OK again. I’m not going to pretend that I know exactly what you’re going through, but I do know that I’ve been to those kinds of dark and scary places before.

So when it feels like no one understands you and no one cares, I want you to remember that there are others out there fighting the same battle you are. Not all of them will win, and not all of them will show you their scars. But there is hope, and there are people out there who believe in you, even if they’ve never met you. There are doctors and therapists who want to help you. There are resources and support groups and chatrooms and TV shows and video games and bike rides and recipe books and so, so much more.

You are worthy of love. You deserve to be happy. You are not alone.

Laugh Track: An interview with the hosts of Vancouverite, Amber Harper-Young and Brent Constantine

By
EIC
-
0

Get to know the folks behind the laughter, as The Peak explores the burgeoning Vancouver comedy scene with our recurring column, Laugh Track. From podcast hosts and improv royalty to monthly showrunners and people just being funny weirdos, there’s never a shortage in this comedic goldmine called Vancouver.

You don’t have to be a comedian to make jokes about living in Vancouver, but that’s the premise of Brent Constantine and Amber Harper-Young’s monthly show at Hot Art Wet City. For over two years, Vancouverite: A Comedy Show has provided comics with the platform to share their Vancouver-based experiences. From the challenges of relocating to Vancouver to the different set of challenges that come with living here, it’s a comedy show that literally hits close to home.

The Peak: One of the definitions for Vancouverite on Urban Dictionary is “somebody with the biggest superiority/inferiority complex in all of Canada.” What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the term “Vancouverite”?

Amber Harper-Young: Just anyone living here. It’s funny, because I thought I’d never be a Vancouverite, but then I’ll catch myself doing weird things, like yoga at Dude Chilling Park. I think there are hipsters that embody what a lot of people, like Urban Dictionary, think a Vancouverite is, but I don’t know if that’s true. When I first moved here, I thought there’d be a lot more hippies, and people would be more green. Just a lot more things that I was sort of aiming for myself, and then you realize that everyone just puts their trash in the alley, and no one really gives a fuck about whatever anybody else is doing.

Brent Constantine: There’s this idea that people have of this city, that maybe doesn’t exist, and this shared idea of how people have to act when they’re here. And people just follow along because they’re like, “Well, I’m in Vancouver, I guess I have to love bikes now.”

AHY: And Whole Foods.

BC: Not just part of the food anymore, I have to love the whole thing.

P: What comes to mind when you hear the term Vancouverite: A Comedy Show?

AHY: Lots of fun, lots of exchanging of past experiences. We talk to the audience off the top, so we get to find out where people are from. We get to make jokes about them, jokes about ourselves — it really doesn’t matter where you’re from.

IMG_3683

P: Where did the idea for the show come from?

BC: Most of the people we meet didn’t grow up in Vancouver. People are from out of town, and so there’s that idea of just adjusting to life here from their home cities.

AHY: Brent and I were new to Vancouver and we were very desperate to do something ourselves. We wanted to carve a little niche for ourselves, to have something consistent to be doing, but also something different. Just the fact that the show has a theme sets itself apart from a lot of just typical stand-up shows. And we thought we could both really relate to the theme.

BC: People really like themes for some reason. Themes just bring people in, even this theme, which is very loose. It’s just, “People from not here.”

AHY: And then we also have people who are from here on the show, so there’s a bit of compare and contrast. And then we get some comics that just don’t even do any material regarding the theme.

P: Are the sets generally geared towards positive or negative stories about Vancouver? Why do you think that is?

AHY: It usually just depends on the comic, and their viewpoint. We don’t try to control what people have to say.

BC: It doesn’t mean people hate it, but a lot of people start from where something’s weird or dumb about this city. I’m trying to remember someone ever coming in and just being so jazzed and like, “SkyTrain! A train in the sky! Amazing!”

P: What’s the most “Vancouver” story you’ve heard at Vancouverite?

AHY: Dylan Rhymer was talking about a time when a movie was being filmed, and the locals who had to deal with the movie shooting around their home just started throwing garbage out the windows at people. I thought that was so funny, because it reminds me of the attitude, where Vancouverites just do whatever. If they’re mad, they just get mad. It’s a movie, which a lot of people would be like, “Oooh, cool Hollywood!” But Vancouverites are just like, “Get the hell out of here. This is our home.”

P: What will people who live in Vancouver enjoy most about the show?

BC: There’s a great comedy scene in Vancouver, and, a lot of the time, people who come out to some of these shows might not be a comedy crowd. So they come in, thinking they’re going to see some kind of exposé on the city, and then we trick them into just watching some great comics that happen to live here.

Also, if you don’t like our comedy, Chris, the owner of the space, put up pictures of naked people wearing luchador masks by the bathroom. So you can just stand by the bathroom for an hour and a half looking at peoples’ genitals and if anyone says anything, say you’re “studying art,” just like a real Vancouverite!
The next instalment of Vancouverite: A Comedy Show is happening on June 25 at, as always, Hot Art Wet City. If you’re looking for a double dosage of Constantine’s hosting skills, you can also see him at Weird Al Karaoke the night before on June 24 at Little Mountain Gallery.

1...826827828...1,414Page 827 of 1,414

Simon Fraser University’s independent student newspaper since 1965.

Contact us: [email protected]

© The Peak Publications Society 1965-2024

Simon Fraser University’s independent student newspaper since 1965.

Contact us:
[email protected]

© The Peak Publications Society 1965-2024