Writing Styles: Week 4

I enjoyed reading the various writing styles that were presented in the articles this week. Crowley has a very formal and informational style where, after reading his works, I actually feel like I learned something. I feel like I know much more about the formation and development of The Beach Boys after reading his second article, Chapters 5 and 6.

In contrast to the academic style of writing presented in Crowley's work, many of the other articles blend together to create the atmosphere and culture of the time - giving a multi-faceted window into the surf culture of the 1960s. Wolfe has a story-telling fashion of writing as he portrays to the reader the Pump House Gang. In almost a second person point of view - like you're hanging out with him and his sharing his memories to you and some other buddies - you feel like you're right there with the Pump Hose Gang yelling out "Mee-dah" just to annoy the mommy-hubbies and dreading the day you turn 25 and lose The Life just like they are. Tying in the photo portfolio by Ron Stoner, you really get a better sense of what The Life was in those days, the surfing life. Crowley's information even adds in building up some angst against The Beach Boys for"hairing out" (Wolfe's term) instead of staying true to Carl Wilson's honest surf music style. See from the best vantage points, hear their developing representation of the surf in their surf music, and join the gang with the story telling of past memories; the compilation of articles really puts you into the surf culture of the early 1960s.