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David Tynan, Sandford Park School, Dublin
Name A punk band. Go on.
What did you think of? The Offspring? Sum 41? Okay: What's punk about Sum 41? Their sound? Their attitude? Their dress sense?
Sum 41 are not punk - it's as simple as that. Neither are Blink 182 or whoever else you want to pick.
Punk wasn't "punk" for more than a year, and it didn't have a name. And it wasn't three guys running around with no clothes and dumb jokes, Blink 182 style. Punk is as much about attitude as fast guitars. Punk means politics and something new, dangerous and different. Sum 41 (sorry to keep bashing them - you can use any number of other bands if you prefer) isn't any of those things. It's safe, American rock - and that's not punk. It's not the worst crime in music, but it's not punk.
Punk was anti-establishment, but the Offspring are signed to Sony, one of the "evil big five". Nowadays punk isn't about making a statement or protest, just Middle Of the Road rock. Bands like the Prodigy, Sona Fariq and ADF are closer to the beliefs and attitude of 1970s punk. They are making music that is different, hasn't been done before and is angry, as opposed to Sum 41, with power chords and commercial dullness.
Punk was the Ramones, and now, in my opinion, lives on in Asian Dub Foundation and others who still push boundaries by making music that is anti-establishment, with an attitude and style to match.
Catherine Bowles, Maryfield College, Drumcondra, Dublin
Recently, I was surprised to learn that soaps get more TV viewers than the news. Surely society isn't so insensitive and uncaring that we'd rather watch Ken Barlow mulling over a pint in the Rover's than watch the real problems going on in the world today?
Is it a case of addiction? And, if so, what are we addicted to? Is it those predictable storylines, with two-dimensional characters lazing around drab settings?
Frankly, yes! I think we watch soaps as an escape route from our own routine and often monotonous lives. Everyone carries a heavy load from the day-to-day living of modern life. However, we are relieved of these problems for at least a half-hour several times a week as we let the residents of Albert Square and Coronation Street take over.
Soaps have been a part of daily programming for years. So whether it's adulterous love affairs, murders or sheer tomfoolery, I hope to see them for many more years to come.
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Media Scope is edited by Harry Browne.
