Analysis of a Subculture A Punk Primer
By Tara Swanepoel
INTRODUCTION
The task of this assignment is to analyse a youth subculture group. The group
chosen for this particular assignment is that of the punk subculture group. The
assignment will deal with the following aspects as outlined below:
1. HISTORY OF PUNK
2. THE CULTURE OF PUNK
3. CONCLUSION
4. BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. HISTORY OF PUNK
To fully understand the punk movement, one needs to understand the background of
the movement. Past events shape the culture and philosophy of any movement.
“Punk has its earliest roots in the United States, in
New York city. It was there in the very late 1960’s and early 1970’s that
bands such as the Ramones, Television, Patti Smith, and Blondie emerged on the
New York punk scene. It is important to keep in mind that it was a scene and not
the movement that occurred in Great Britain in the latter parts of the
1970’s” (Cahill 1998: 1).
The scene in the US remained small until the punk
movement in Britain was given considerable media attention. Because punk is a
counter culture it cannot be pinpointed exactly when the movement began.
“However, most would agree that it was sometime in 1975. Britain was suffering
from a recession at the time, and in times of extreme hardship, people look for
an outlet for their anger” (Cahill 1998: 1). This is exactly what happened in
Great Britain. Adolescents became angry and showed their frustration and
dissatisfaction of situations or conditions. In 1975, the poor working class
youths of Britain began to use the style of the New York punk scene. Adolescents
were angry because they seemed domed to living out an existence on the dole.
This, coupled with normal adolescent feelings of isolation and estrangement gave
rise to the punk movement. Punk music became a strong way in which pinks could
give vent to their feelings and identify themselves as a counter culture. Their
dress also became a means of identification. “Punk as a subculture was
beginning to take shape, conformity was what punk stood against” (Cahill 1998:
1).
As the punk movement began to take shape and grow, the
media could not ignore it. The press started to cover shows that bands such as
the Sex Pistols, Clash etc. performed. With more media coverage the music and
movement became increasingly popular. “The Sex Pistols led the way for many
other bands by signing labels with major recording companies. By doing this they
had sold out. They were standing up against conforming to the mainstream, and
they had become mainstream by signing a major record label” (Cahill 1998: 2).
In 1977 the Sex Pistols broke up and this signified the dying of mainstream
punk. The punk movement did not die out, however. In 1978 a band called Crass
led the second wave of punk. After the second wave began in Britain’s punk
scene, similar ideals started around the world. “the second wave wasn’t just
a style of clothing or a certain group of bands, it was a philosophy in
itself” (Cahill 1998: 2).
The history of punk in SA is less clear than in the USA
and Britain. However, it can probably be safe to assume that the punk movement
probably started out a few years after it gained much popularity in Britain and
has gone through many of the same developments.
2. THE CULTURE OF PUNK
Because punk is considered to be an underground movement, much information about
the punk culture is not common knowledge. “Punk is more than just music; it
has an in depth philosophy, based on anarchist political views and liberation”
(Cahill 1998: 3). The lack of knowledge and understanding of the punk movement
has caused it to be continually misinterpreted. The media has ignored the
reasons behind Punk actions and wrongly attached negative connotations to the
punk subculture. The punk movement has received a bad reputation and has been
characterized by self-destruction and violence. One of the misconceptions about
punks is that all punks are skinheads. However, the two are generally separate
identities. The Skinheads were around before the Punk movement and have their
own history and culture. “In fact, most Punks object to Skinheads at their
concerts, mostly due to the fact that the Skinheads are usually the cause of
violence and break up of the gigs” (Cahill 1998: 3). The punk movement
generally reacts against racism and inequality, which is a philosophy that
varies greatly from the Skinheads. However, it is to be noted here that Source A
who was interviewed for this assignment believes that racism is an integral part
of the punk philosophy and he groups punks and skinheads together. From this it
is obvious that in some cases the two groups merge and can not be viewed as
totally distinct groups.
A. THE DEFINITION OF PUNK
Under the culture of punk, it is necessary to look at a definition of punk.
“The true backbone of the Punk movement is the ideals of the people and the
music” (Cahill 1998: 4). True punk is not a look or a fad.
B. FASHION
Although it has been stated that true punk is not a look or a fad, nevertheless,
the look of punk is important because it is a visible expression of the
anti-conformity philosophy. Source A comments that the dress of a punk reflects
the attitude. Jeans, doc martins, red laces, studded jackets, army pants, safety
pins etc. are all according to Source A, a visible expression of the punks
desire to be non-conformist.
“Though it seems that punks had little or no fashion
sense, they were in a sense so anti-fashion that they made an even bigger
statement” (The Pit 1998: 2). One of the main shops that specialized in punk
fashion was Malcolm Mclaren’s shop Sex.
“Sex specialized in leather and bondage clothing `and
pre-mutilated or modified clothing that not all punks could afford, those that
could ate it up though. The punks were fond of leather jackets, torn and ripped
clothes, clothing that in no way matched, and accessories such as safety pins,
swastikas, and communist symbols. Basically punk fashion emphasized
individualism and embraced anything that stood out from the norm” (The Pit
1998: 2).
From the above it is clear that both in the past and the
present, clothing is an important means of identification in the punk
subculture.
C. MUSIC
Punk music can probably be considered as the way in which punks most strongly
define themselves. “Punk music is basically the ‘staple food’ for almost
all punks” (Cahill 1998: 4). Punk music is an outlet for punks to express
their rage, anger etc. In the past punk rock made social statements mostly with
regard to the authority of the establishment. Nowadays, however, much of the
punk rock music has lost its political meaning in the attempt to be commercially
viable. Although punk music technically started in the USA with artists such as
the “Ramones, Television, Patti Smith, Blondie, and Talking Heads, punk caught
on with much more force in England” (The Pit 1998: 1). Bands such as the Sex
Pistols, Clash, Damned etc. came to the fore and used their music to express
their frustrations. The lyrics In punk music “frequently contain oppositional
themes (anti-romantic love songs, anti-parents, anti-peer groups)” (Jones
1998: 3).
Source B says that the heroes of the subculture are
generally the respective band members. This is an area for great concern as many
of the band members have died through suicide or drug overdoses. A few examples
are:
Sid Vicious, bassist for the Sex Pistols. Died at age 21
from a heroin overdose.
Stefanie Sargent, guitarist for the group 7 Year Bitch. Died at the age of 24
from a heroin overdose.
Kurt Cobain, singer and guitarist for Nirvana. Died at the age of 27 from
suicide.
Jason Thirsk, bassist for the group Penny-wise. Died at the age of 27 from
suicide.
These are just a few of some 24 examples of drink, drug,
and suicide-related deaths that are found in the Internet article from the
Sunset Strip/Towers.
In the past, the main appeal in punk music came in
it’s do it yourself attitude and “emphasis on individuality and self
expression. Punk was simple, powerful music that had energy and made a
statement. All you needed were three chords and the truth and you could
virtually start a band. Punk as a scene tried at its’ barest to resist
commercialism and make recordings and shows affordable to fans” (The Pit 1998:
2).
Punk rock has had a huge influence on music. When it
began in the Seventies it brought “a needed slap in the face to the
complacency of rock music and mainstream culture” (The Pit 1998: 1). In the
early to mid Eighties punk slowly began to die and although some bands survived
the transition and enjoyed a great deal of popularity underground. “Then in
1991 a band called Nirvana released an album called Nevermind” (The Pit 1998:
1). Once again punk music became a force to be reckoned with. But, this new
brand of punk was not the same. Some of the same old energy was there but
generally punk music was a cheap imitation of the original. Punk music was more
commercialized and seemed more interested in mainstream success. This was
everything the old style punk had fought against.
D. THE PEOPLE OF PUNK
“A safe assumption is that the majority of Punks are young, white and middle
class. The amount of youth in the culture is one of the factors why the Punk
rock is fast-paced and energetic” (Cahill 1998: 5). Punk nowadays is comprised
of a majority of middle class whites as opposed to the original inner-city
working class minorities. An important aspect to note here is that youth have
consciously chosen to reject their privileged places in society. Source A says
that punks often join the subculture at age 13. Source B says that the people
who join are often very artistic, clever, introverted people. They tend to have
deep insecurities and seem to be able to find an outlet for this in the punk
movement.
E. ANARCHY AND PUNK
Source A says that anarchy and punk are inseparable. Punks are against any
authority or system. “Punks support of anarchy fits in well with their belief
that government is oppressive and Punks call for individual freedom and
control” (Cahill 1998: 6). The belief of many punks is that the only way to
achieve true individual freedom is through the abolition of establishments,
which create structures that restrict personal freedom. Punks feel that the
government does not act in the best interests of the people and therefore the
individual is in the best interests of the people. Punks’ belief in anarchism
is the cornerstone for the rest of Punk’s ideals.
3. CONCLUSION
There is no doubt that the Punk culture is wildly different from what it
originally was. But, this is not a signal that punk is dead. Punk has evolved
and changed with the times. In SA, punk has evolved into something that has
great attraction for young teenagers, especially among the skateboarders.
In an Internet article entitled ‘Punk is Nothing’,
Andrew Lance writes, “Punk has let me down as a subculture. Yep, it has done a
poor job of resolving any conflicts I have about many things – the reasons why
I adhered to punk for so long in the first place – political and personal
freedom; freedom for all, and peace for all”.
As ministers to youth we should be actively seeking out
opportunities to minister into the lives of young people who are caught up in a
subculture that has let them down and offered them nothing. As ministers of the
gospel we have everything to offer them that their particular subculture has
been unable to.
THE INTERNET:
www.punksg.phreakco.com
www.student.monterey.edu
www.thepit.com
www.stonecabin.com
©Taken from here