Lauren Hall

Coco
ENGL 1001
20 February 2016
Process Preface:
-After seeing the edits made on my peer review draft, I was ready to take on my teacher
comment draft. There were some basic grammar and vocabulary mistakes I needed to
fix, and the student that edited my paper suggested that I make my transitions more clear.
To be quite honest, I was a little nervous about completing a final draft, but I know its
important to be confident in my writing.
Ode to Demarco Teacher Comment Draft
Patience is important, and also, if you dont want to do it, dont do it. But if you
do, do. Thats a general rule in how I live my life (Demarco). It is both a blessing and a
curse to have grown up in a world influenced by technology and its vices. Luckily
though, because I was born in the late 90s, technology was something of a privilege,
where now, it is something of a need, rather than a want. But, technology is not the only
influencer of pop culture. Media and print are also popular methods of establishing what
is cool in the current culture. For example, growing up, I did not have things such as
Instagram to access pictures of my favorite celebrities. Instead, I had magazines such as
Tiger Beat where I had access to pictures of my favorite celebrities at the time.
Because the internet became such a popular mode to accessing pop culture during my
formative years, I was able to then find my own style of music that I liked. This was just
a gateway into how contemporary and alternative music shaped my style, life, and
personality.

Growing up, my music taste was completely influenced by my parents. My mom

preferred more alternative 90s garage rock like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nirvana,
Pearl Jam, and The Pixies. Whereas, my dad preferred more 80s class and hair rock, like
Rush, Journey, and The Steve Miller Band. I did not grow up listening to classics like The
Rolling Stones or The Beatles. I never really questioned my parents music, until I was
able to choose my own music. I was in the 4th grade when I received my first generation
Apple iPod. At this point, YouTube had just started to become popular and I was
beginning to explore my taste in music. My older brother was a huge influence in my
music taste as well, so he helped me download my first few songs. In 2007, bands like
Fall Out Boy and Panic At The Disco were popular, so I downloaded their music. Little
did I know how much of an impact this small iPod would have on me.
My music taste did not change much through middle school, and it wasnt until
high school that I really began to see how my music was influencing me. When I was 16,
I began listening to more underground music that can be described as surfer or slacker
rock. The main muse of that genre is a Canadian musician named Mac Demarco. Mac
is seen as a main influencer in the world of surfer and slacker rock. He began making
music in his small New York apartment, creating his own synths and beats. His music is
recognized because of the frequent use of synthesizers and the acoustic guitar.
Specifically though, Mac has become an influencer of style and lifestyle in not only my
life, but countless other lives as well.
Mac Demarco describes himself as a pretty simple guy. His go-to outfit is red
Vans, light washed cuffed jeans, white crew socks, a random graphic t shirt, and an old
slightly flat billed hat. Some look at his style as thrift store couture, but that is one of

the main reasons I admire Mac. Hes become one of the most popular indie alternative
artists, headlining festivals like Bonnaroo, and having tours all over the world, but he
continues to stay true to his style, self, and roots. Which is why I see Mac as such a
positive influence. Although he isnt an A-List Celebrity, he is just as important in my
eyes. He doesnt sing or write about drugs and alcohol, but instead he writes about his
own personally experiences, being his true self, and expressing himself in positive ways.
In one of his songs, Goodbye Weekend on the album Salad Days, he sings, So
dont go telling me how this boy should be leading his own life, Sometimes rough but
generally speaking Im fine, If you dont agree with the things that go on within my life,
Well honey thats fine just know that youre wasting your time (Demarco). In the
politest way possible, and in typical Mac fashion, he is saying that if youre happy with
your own life, you shouldnt be influenced by the way other people perceive your life or
your lifestyle choices. He believes in believing in yourself and your choices. Outside
influences can bring negativity into your life, causing for anxious feelings of being
judged. For example, in his most popular song, Salad Days, he sings, Oh mama,
actin like your lifes already over, Oh dear, act your age and try another year
(Demarco). To be quite honest, I didnt really understand the term Salad Days when I
first heard the song. Now, I would say that Salad Days mean the simpler days. You
should live your life in Salad Days, taking it day by day and if youre happy then youre
happy.
But, not all things are as simple as Salad Days. Although Mac Demarco has been
a huge role model in my life, hes also been somewhat of a negative influence as well.
Mac sings about some of his own vices, like his addiction to cigarettes. His song Ode

to Viceroy, a song about his favorite cigarette brand, became so popular that cigarettes
became a part of Macs brand and style. So, of course, those listening to Mac began
smoking, even me. But, that was pretty easy to quit, and I only smoked every now and
then. Even though Mac was an influencer in a bad habit, smoking, he also influenced my
life in so many positive ways. Mac Demarco taught me to live my life in the slow lane,
taking it day by day. He taught me that its important to stay yourself, even with money
and fame coming into the picture. He taught me that its important to look around at the
world. I look at art and nature in a different way now and I have him to thank.
It is not necessarily healthy to turn to a celebrity for all the answers, but it is
comforting to see how others, especially those in the spotlight, handle difficult situations.
I tend to be a very anxious person, so music was something I could turn to and be able to
relax, or even hype myself up. Finding a musician like Mac Demarco was imperative to
forming who I would become in my young adult life. I value his music and words, but I
know that ultimately, my word is most important in my life. I hope to one day be just as
influential in someones life, as Mac Demarco has been in mine.
Official Word Count : 1109
Teacher Comment Draft Questions:
-I decided to choose the 2nd topic, Popular Culture Literacy Narrative, because I was
inspired by the music I was listening to when I was doing the brainstorming exercise. I
was listening to Mac Demarco, the muse of my paper, when I was doing my
brainstorming draft. His music reminded me of who I am and gave me inspiration when
writing.

-In my paper, I used a lot of quotes, especially from Demarcos music, and I felt like that
helped make the paper more relatable. Also, I think opening with how I came to love
music helped the paper flow.
-After reading the peer review, I did some revising. I changed the grammar mistakes, and
fixed my use of vocabulary. I added a quote to the beginning of my paper, and focused
more on how Demarcos influence has had an impact on me.
-I am most proud of my revision and decision to add a quote from Mac Demarco at the
beginning of my paper. I was having trouble finding a quote that I thought would be
fitting, but when I found this one, it spoke to me. Especially because my essay is about
how Mac lives his life and how that influenced me to live my own life.
-Although I was really happy with the quote I chose, it does also make me a little wary. I
was always taught to never open with a quote, but I couldnt resist. I just hope that the
quote helps tie the entire paper together.
-Lastly, my three biggest concerns about my essay still stand. 1). That most importantly,
people and the reader are able to relate to my essay. 2). That my essay flows and is easy
to read, and 3). That people have a clear understanding of the ways that Mac Demarco
has played both a positive and negative influence in my life.

Works Cited
"TOP 25 QUOTES BY MAC DEMARCO | A-Z Quotes." A-Z Quotes. N.p., n.d. Web. 23
Feb. 2016.
"Mac Demarco." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2016.
""Salad Days" Lyrics." MAC DEMARCO LYRICS. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Feb. 2016.