Culture has been defined as "the beliefs, customs, arts, etc., of a particular society, group, place, or time". To some, the culture that they have chosen to exist in becomes a cerebral part of themselves. We turn to it to define ourselves as individuals, as a singular entity in this world. It becomes a focal point that drives us forward. To Peter Christof Parkour, the hip hop culture has become an integral part of who he is and it was apparent when I met him that he carried it proudly wherever he went. A regular of the downtown scene, Peter has boldly put himself in to the public eye as a breakdancer and titling himself as a B-Boy. But what interested me the most about Peter was his idolism of the comic book hero Spider-Man, someone who he identifies with to a great extent. An idolism that has driven him to don the costume and carry the morals of the hero himself while he climbs the buildings of Guelph. Because as he said it, "When the kids see Spider-Man climbing the side of a building or jumping off it's roof, they know they have to be Spider-Man to do it." I was curious to the origins of someone like him and when asked, he spoke openly. Peter spoke about the loss of a friend while he was in high school. He said that it was a death that in retrospect, he knew he could have prevented. And it was the frustration that came from ignoring the warning signs that could have prevented a death that caused him to spiral downward for a long time. Peter spent years dedicating himself to learning ways to help people. He studied for first aid and CPR certification five times over. Worked his way to a black belt in martial arts, eventually leaving his dojo to continue exploring the study. But it wasn't until the mentoring of a childhood friend that Peter found an emotional outlet in the form of breakdancing. Carrying the emotion's of what Peter calls his "Uncle Ben moment", his aggressive, flowing style reinforces his belief that all dancing should be emotional and improvised."Dance is nothing without dedication." He said. "You need to be able to express yourself with what you're doing, or you shouldn't be doing it. The worst dancer you see is someone who's jumping in the circle. If they're not jumping in the circle to show you an idea, or a pattern behind their movement that they want to display then they're just soaking up the limelight." While we talked, it was obvious to me that Peter viewed hip hop as an artistic means of expression through both beats and dance very highly. It's almost inspiring to meet people like this, that embody their loves and passions so completely that they almost become what they dedicate themselves to. When you're passionate about something, it's not hard to lose yourself to it. "What hip hop is to me, is a lifestyle. It's hip hop genius. The ability to take nothing and materialize anything from it. From the get go, it has always been a spot where a community can bridge together." It was a joy to listen to. But from the get go, what interested me the most about him was his moonlight hobby of donning the Spidey costume. Peter is an adventurous person, that much is obvious just by looking at him. He stressed to me his belief that people shouldn't be so reserved and afraid to try new things. Peter uses the costume during his bouts of urban exploration as a way to inspire others. He channels the hero through himself as a way to reach out and encourage people to take risks with their lives, to take chances and explore opportunities. He told me that he held the Steve Jobs quote of "Stay hungry, stay foolish" in high regards and that there was never a moment in a day that he didn't explore any opportunity that life offered him. Peter is an amazing dude and it was a pleasure to speak with him briefly. I asked him what the future held for him and he told me that California was his destination and his passions would be his career. The world needs more outgoing people, unafraid of how their passions appear to others. It was a pleasure to meet Peter, and wherever the future may take him I hope for the best.
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