perfidy

In the continual search for newer, better, and more satisfying employment- more satisfying than, say, removing the sharp stick lodged 3" into your left quadricep with a long, satisfied sigh- I came across this opening:

Vice President of Education and Public Programs
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is currently considering applicants for the position of Vice President of Education and Public Programs. The Vice President of Education and Public Programs reports to the President and CEO and is responsible for establishing and directing all educational activities and programs at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum

A suit at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame! At first blush it seemed so wrong- but after a few seconds of thought, it makes total sense. Most rock musicians can't manage their own personal affairs; dare we trust them with the cultural heritage that the form has become? Suits run their money and their careers; might as well run their legacy, too. The ad goes on:

Creates educational programs and materials relating to the unique content of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, focusing both on the permanent collection and temporary exhibits. Develops curriculum and learning materials to teach the widest possible audience, from toddlers to adults, about rock and roll culture and its social and historical significance.

Not only just another suit, then- a nerd, too! What an improbably cool position for a museum-trained historian or, failing that, a record-store clerk; often the same thing, I can attest. And is there any other person more insufferably arrogant about music than humanities majors? If we were comparing fingerprints here, we'd be talking about a 9-point match. Designing programs, displays, and other instructional media at the Hall of Fame sure beats the hell out of doing public history work in a musuem no one goes to, designing displays no one gives a shit about like "Whither Butter?"; or "The Evolution of the Overall" (in Kansas, "The Creation of the Overall"); and certainly better than that musty archive your friend who majored in history worked in, the one where he contracted that nasty eye socket infection.

So say you're the new guy, just hired for this position. What would be some programs or exhibits you might pitch?

My first thought? "It Doesn't Mean That Much To Me To Mean That Much To You", a whole series about rock 'n roll suicide. You get everyone who's offed himself, plus the David Bowie and Neil Young tie-ins for the soundtrack. Logo would be a Strat with a noose around it, or a gun to its head(stock), and would appear on all associated merch. Pretty good, huh? And that was just off the top of my head!

What would you do?