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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Guralinick tries to justify Phillips' switch to almost entirely ______ musicians after recording Elvis Presley.

2. Bangs believes that Laughner bought into a rock culture that celebrates ______, and Bangs subsequently denounces that culture.

3. During the interview with Lou Reed, Bangs suggests that _______ imitates Lou Reed.

4. During their interview, Hell describes to Bangs the importance of self-hatred and ______ in music.

5. Bangs describes punk as being music that is about renouncing ______ and being different.

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Bangs believe hints to Pop's isolation in the music world when he is reviewing a show?

2. Why does Bangs believe Richard Hell's style of punk rock is necessary in the world?

3. What does Bangs note about any band which is now considered to be great in the eyes of the culture?

4. What does narcissism allow a person to do, according to the opinion of Richard Hell in Bangs' writing?

5. What does Bangs reveal that he and his friends hate doing, when he is writing in the first part of this section?

6. What does Bangs say is the most important ways in which Lou Reed is unique?

7. What does Bangs argue about the music that Lou Reed makes when it is good?

8. Why does Bangs consider Lou Reed to be a hero of his, according to his writings?

9. Why does Bangs want to have sex with death all around him, according to one of his essays?

10. What does Bangs conclude about the performances of Pop when he sees the show at the beginning of this chapter?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Reed and Bangs are insulting each other when they are first talking to each other the interview they have in the book.

Part 1: Why do you think the two men decide to insult each other when they are talking?

Part 2: Do you think it's good form to insult another person you are interviewing?

Part 3: How do you think Bangs should have treated Reed in that particular interview?

Essay Topic 2

Bangs believes that a free style of music is much more effective than a more arty style, like Led Zeppelin.

Part 1: How would you characterize the music of Led Zeppelin?

Part 2: Do you think that free music is better than music which is more structured?

Part 3: Why do you think Bangs is more forgiving to free music?

Essay Topic 3

Like so many other music critics, Bangs has stories of run-ins with the law which make it into his columns.

Part 1: Why do you think Bangs decides that he won't stop playing his sax, and then gets in trouble for it?

Part 2: Do you think there is a reputation that a music critic has to uphold in order to be seen as valid?

Part 3: How do you think a music critic or a musician should behave?

(see the answer keys)

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