PUNK IDEOLOGIES
PUNK IDEOLOGIES
Punk ideologies are a group of varied social and political beliefs associated with the punk subculture. This article provides a rough generalization of the philosophies of individuals who identify themselves as punks and doesn't completely represent the views of all of those who do so.
In its original nature, the punk culture has been primarily concerned with individual freedom, which tends to create beliefs in concepts such as individualism, anti-authoritarianism, anarchism and free thought. Punk ideologies have often included a critical view of the world; seeing modern day societies as placing extensive limits on humanity. Punk ideologies are usually expressed through punk rock music, punk zines, independently-published literature and spoken word recordings.
Punk culture originated as a movement of shock, rebellion, and discontent; and from certain points-of-view, it has evolved into an overt socio-political movement. Lyrically, punk bands often express discontent with the individuals and institutions that influence society. The political ideology most often associated with punk is anarchism; however, punk has also been associated with other leftist ideologies such as social liberalism, socialism and communism. Despite the association that punk ideologies have with the left wing, some punks perceive the efforts of leftists as ineffectual, and sometimes just as objectionable as the right wing. Right-wing ideologies have appeared within punk culture, including conservatism and neo-Nazism.
Philosophical ideologies within the punk subculture include atheism, agnosticism and humanism, as well as religious ones such as Christianity, Islam, the Rastafari movement and the Hare Krishna movement (especially amongst 1980s straight edge scene).
Punk ethics
In the late 1970s, the punk movement was operating in an environment controlled by outside influences. Because this impinged on the freedom of the movement, people in the punk scene began creating their own record labels, organizing their own concerts, and creating their own print media. This became known as the do it yourself (DIY) ethic. "Don't hate the media, become the media" is a motto of this movement.
Punks sometimes participate in direct action such as protests, boycotts, and in some cases, violence. Some of the most militant punks have bombed gas stations, destroyed animal research laboratories, altered billboards to include political messages, and occupied abandoned buildings. These acts are committed in an effort to create social change when it is felt that the normal channels for change have been proven ineffective. See songs on direct action.
Selling out
Selling out refers to any abandonment of personal values in exchange for reciprocal gain, in the form of wealth, status, or power. Because anti-establishment attitudes are such an important part of punk ideologies, a network of independent music labels, venues, and distributors has developed. Some punk bands have chosen to break from this independent system and work within the established system of major labels. This goes against the common punk view of anti-capitalism, and some punks argue that these artists have betrayed their communities and their creative integrity is necessarily compromised. However, some artists argue that working in the major label system is a necessary evil, allowing the widest distribution of their messages.
Another meaning of selling out is for a punk band to change its musical style, such as to progressive rock, pop or heavy metal. For example, many of Black Flag's later songs show obvious metal influence[citation needed], while their earlier work was mainly punk rock. Selling out also has the meaning of adopting a more conservative, mainstream lifestyle and ideology. One example of someone accused of selling out is Garry Bushell, who largely abandoned socialism after getting a job at The Sun newspaper. However, according to Ian Glasper in his book Burning Britain, Bushell became disillusioned with the punk movement.
Punk fashion and visual art
Main articles: Punk fashion and Punk visual art
Punk fashion was originally an expression of nonconformity, as well as opposition to mainstream culture and the hippie counterculture. Punk fashion displays many of the things that punk music expresses: aggression, rebellion, and individualism. This use of fashion to shock may have been partly influenced by the Futurist art movement. Early British punk clothes were an example of polysemy, which is the appropriation of everyday items as clothing (such as safety pins and bin liners) to change the original meaning of the item. Early punk styles have been linked to dandyism, because they were concerned with making the body a work of art. Some punks have tattoos that express sociopolitical messages. Many punks wear vintage or thrift/charity shop clothing, partly as an anti-consumerist statement and partly harks back to dandyism. Some punks dress in an anti-fashion style, which has been associated with early American hardcore punk bands like Minor Threat and Black Flag.
Punk visual art is usually straightforward with a clear message. Album covers contain potent messages concerning social injustice, economic disparity, and images of suffering. Alternatively, they may contain images of selfishness, apathy, and other things that may provoke contempt in the viewer. Much of the earlier punk artwork was in black and white, because it was distributed in fanzines created at copy shops. Other artworks are composed of cartoons, especially in less overtly-political and apolitical bands.
Anarchism
Main article: Anarcho-punk
Many punks who support anarchism are known as anarcho-punks. However, some well-known punk bands (e.g. The Exploited and the Sex Pistols) sing about anarchy, but do not use the word in the sense of anarchism as a political philosophy based on pacifism and common ownership. As such, they are not considered part of the anarcho-punk genre.[1] Notable anarchist punks include: Tom Gabel, Steve Ignorant, Penny Rimbaud, Eve Libertine, Gee Vaucher, Jack Grisham, Colin Jerwood, Dave Dictor, Jello Biafra and Kelvin "Cal" Morris of Discharge.
Apolitical
Another punk minority are those who claim not to be political, such as the band Charged GBH and the singer G.G. Allin. However, in practice, socio-political ideas do find their way into these musicians' lyrics. Charged GBH have sung about social issues and anti-war themes, such as in the songs "Wardogs" and "No Survivors." G.G. Allin expressed a vague desire to kill the United States president and destroy the current political system (in his song "Violence Now").[2] Punk subgenres that are generally apolitical include: glam punk, psychobilly, horror punk, punk pathetique, deathrock, pop punk and new wave.
Conservatism
A small number of punks are conservative, embracing the punk lifestyle while rejecting the left-wing and anarchist views held by the majority of the subculture. Notable conservative punks include: Michale Graves, Johnny Ramone, Lee Ving, Joe Escalante, Bobby Steele and Dave Smalley.
Liberalism
Liberal punks were in the punk subculture from the beginning, and are mostly on the liberal left. Notable liberal punks include: Joey Ramone, Fat Mike, Ted Leo, Crashdog, Hoxton Tom McCourt and Tim McIlrath.
Libertarianism
Examples of libertarian punks include Billie Joe Armstrong (who was registered as a Libertarian Party voter in California)[3], and Joe Young, guitarist for Antiseen.
Neo-Nazism and white nationalism
Main articles: Nazi punk and Rock Against Communism
Nazi punks have a far right, nationalist, fascist, and racist ideology that is closely related to that of white power skinheads. Ian Stuart Donaldson and his band Skrewdriver are credited with popularizing white power rock music, also known as Rock Against Communism.
Nihilism
Centering around a belief in the abject lack of meaning and value to life, nihilism was a fixture in some early punk rock. Nihilist attitudes and aesthetics were apparent in protopunk and punk rock musicians. High unemployment and other socio-political conditions in the United Kingdom led to the punk slogan "No future." Notable nihilist punks include: GG Allin, Iggy Pop, Sid Vicious, Dee Dee Ramone[citation needed], Richard Hell, and Seth Putnam.
Situationism
The Situationist International (SI) was allegedly an early influence on punk ideology in the United Kingdom.[citation needed] Started in continental Europe in the 1950s, the SI was an avant-garde political movement that sought to recapture the ideals of surrealist art and use them to construct new and radical social situations. Malcolm McLaren introduced situationist ideas to punk through his management of the band Sex Pistols.[citation needed] He commandeered the band members’ rebellious working-class tendencies and placed them in the context of his radical politics.[citation needed] Vivienne Westwood, McLaren’s partner and the band’s designer/stylist, expressed situationist ideals through album cover art and fashion that was intended to provoke a specific social response.
Socialism
The Clash were the first strongly political punk rock band, as they introduced socialism to the punk scene. Some of the original Oi! bands expressed a rough form of socialist working class populism — sometimes mixed with patriotism. Many Oi! bands sang about politically-charged topics such as unemployment, police harassment and working class power. Notable socialist and communist punks include: Attila the Stockbroker, James Dean Bradfield, Billy Bragg, Bruce La Bruce, Garry Bushell (until the late 1980s), Chris Dean, Stewart Home, Dennis Lyxzén, Thomas Mensforth, Fermin Muguruza, Picchio, Alberto Pla, Tom Robinson, Justin Sane, Seething Wells, Paul Simmonds, John Sinclair, Joe Strummer, Ian Svenonius, and Paul Weller. In the 1980s, a number of these musicians were involved with Red Wedge.
Straight Edge
Main article: Straight edge
Straight edge, which originated in the American hardcore punk scene, involves abstaining from alcohol, tobacco, and recreational drug use. Some who claim the title straight edge also abstain from caffeine, casual sex and meat. Those more strict individuals may be considered part of the hardline subculture. For some, straight edge is a simple lifestyle preference, but for others it's a political stance. In many cases, it is a rejection of the perceived self-destruction of punk and hardcore culture. Notable straight edgers include: Ian MacKaye, Henry Rollins, Tim McIlrath and Dennis Lyxzén. Unlike the shunning of meat and caffeine, refraining from casual sex was without question a practice in the original straight edge lifestyle, but it has been overlooked by many of the reincarnations of straight edge.
Criticisms of punk ideologies
Punk ideologies have been criticized from outside and within. The anarcho-punk band Crass wrote the song "White Punks on Hope", which, among other things, accuses Joe Strummer of selling out and betraying his earlier principles. Their song "Punk is Dead" attacks corporate co-option of the punk subculture. Dead Kennedys frontman Jello Biafra accused the punk magazine Maximum RocknRoll of "punk fundamentalism" when they refused to advertise Alternative Tentacles records because they said the records "weren't punk". On the Conservative Punk website, Michael Graves of The Misfits argues that punks have become "hippies with mohawks".
Author Jim Goad argues in his essay The Underground is A Lie!, that many punks are hypocrites.[4] He writes that many punks act poor while hiding the fact they come from middle to upper class backgrounds. Goad claims that punk is as outdated and obsolescent as the mainstream it rails against. In Farts from Underground, he claims that the DIY ethic never produces anything original, and it allows poor quality work to be championed.[5] He argues that in being politicized and propagandist, punk contributes to a model of alternative culture that is more bland than the mainstream. In his personal blog, Goad criticized Joe Strummer for pretending to be poor.[6] In another blog post, Goad mocked punks' stereotypical lack of personal hygiene and overreaction to current events.[7].
In their book The Rebel Sell, Joseph Heath and Andrew Potter claim that counterculture politics have failed, and that the punk understanding of society is flawed. They argue that alternative and mainstream lifestyles ultimately have the same values.
Punk ideologies are a group of varied social and political beliefs associated with the punk subculture. This article provides a rough generalization of the philosophies of individuals who identify themselves as punks and doesn't completely represent the views of all of those who do so.
In its original nature, the punk culture has been primarily concerned with individual freedom, which tends to create beliefs in concepts such as individualism, anti-authoritarianism, anarchism and free thought. Punk ideologies have often included a critical view of the world; seeing modern day societies as placing extensive limits on humanity. Punk ideologies are usually expressed through punk rock music, punk zines, independently-published literature and spoken word recordings.
Punk culture originated as a movement of shock, rebellion, and discontent; and from certain points-of-view, it has evolved into an overt socio-political movement. Lyrically, punk bands often express discontent with the individuals and institutions that influence society. The political ideology most often associated with punk is anarchism; however, punk has also been associated with other leftist ideologies such as social liberalism, socialism and communism. Despite the association that punk ideologies have with the left wing, some punks perceive the efforts of leftists as ineffectual, and sometimes just as objectionable as the right wing. Right-wing ideologies have appeared within punk culture, including conservatism and neo-Nazism.
Philosophical ideologies within the punk subculture include atheism, agnosticism and humanism, as well as religious ones such as Christianity, Islam, the Rastafari movement and the Hare Krishna movement (especially amongst 1980s straight edge scene).
Punk ethics
In the late 1970s, the punk movement was operating in an environment controlled by outside influences. Because this impinged on the freedom of the movement, people in the punk scene began creating their own record labels, organizing their own concerts, and creating their own print media. This became known as the do it yourself (DIY) ethic. "Don't hate the media, become the media" is a motto of this movement.
Punks sometimes participate in direct action such as protests, boycotts, and in some cases, violence. Some of the most militant punks have bombed gas stations, destroyed animal research laboratories, altered billboards to include political messages, and occupied abandoned buildings. These acts are committed in an effort to create social change when it is felt that the normal channels for change have been proven ineffective. See songs on direct action.
Selling out
Selling out refers to any abandonment of personal values in exchange for reciprocal gain, in the form of wealth, status, or power. Because anti-establishment attitudes are such an important part of punk ideologies, a network of independent music labels, venues, and distributors has developed. Some punk bands have chosen to break from this independent system and work within the established system of major labels. This goes against the common punk view of anti-capitalism, and some punks argue that these artists have betrayed their communities and their creative integrity is necessarily compromised. However, some artists argue that working in the major label system is a necessary evil, allowing the widest distribution of their messages.
Another meaning of selling out is for a punk band to change its musical style, such as to progressive rock, pop or heavy metal. For example, many of Black Flag's later songs show obvious metal influence[citation needed], while their earlier work was mainly punk rock. Selling out also has the meaning of adopting a more conservative, mainstream lifestyle and ideology. One example of someone accused of selling out is Garry Bushell, who largely abandoned socialism after getting a job at The Sun newspaper. However, according to Ian Glasper in his book Burning Britain, Bushell became disillusioned with the punk movement.
Punk fashion and visual art
Main articles: Punk fashion and Punk visual art
Punk fashion was originally an expression of nonconformity, as well as opposition to mainstream culture and the hippie counterculture. Punk fashion displays many of the things that punk music expresses: aggression, rebellion, and individualism. This use of fashion to shock may have been partly influenced by the Futurist art movement. Early British punk clothes were an example of polysemy, which is the appropriation of everyday items as clothing (such as safety pins and bin liners) to change the original meaning of the item. Early punk styles have been linked to dandyism, because they were concerned with making the body a work of art. Some punks have tattoos that express sociopolitical messages. Many punks wear vintage or thrift/charity shop clothing, partly as an anti-consumerist statement and partly harks back to dandyism. Some punks dress in an anti-fashion style, which has been associated with early American hardcore punk bands like Minor Threat and Black Flag.
Punk visual art is usually straightforward with a clear message. Album covers contain potent messages concerning social injustice, economic disparity, and images of suffering. Alternatively, they may contain images of selfishness, apathy, and other things that may provoke contempt in the viewer. Much of the earlier punk artwork was in black and white, because it was distributed in fanzines created at copy shops. Other artworks are composed of cartoons, especially in less overtly-political and apolitical bands.
Anarchism
Main article: Anarcho-punk
Many punks who support anarchism are known as anarcho-punks. However, some well-known punk bands (e.g. The Exploited and the Sex Pistols) sing about anarchy, but do not use the word in the sense of anarchism as a political philosophy based on pacifism and common ownership. As such, they are not considered part of the anarcho-punk genre.[1] Notable anarchist punks include: Tom Gabel, Steve Ignorant, Penny Rimbaud, Eve Libertine, Gee Vaucher, Jack Grisham, Colin Jerwood, Dave Dictor, Jello Biafra and Kelvin "Cal" Morris of Discharge.
Apolitical
Another punk minority are those who claim not to be political, such as the band Charged GBH and the singer G.G. Allin. However, in practice, socio-political ideas do find their way into these musicians' lyrics. Charged GBH have sung about social issues and anti-war themes, such as in the songs "Wardogs" and "No Survivors." G.G. Allin expressed a vague desire to kill the United States president and destroy the current political system (in his song "Violence Now").[2] Punk subgenres that are generally apolitical include: glam punk, psychobilly, horror punk, punk pathetique, deathrock, pop punk and new wave.
Conservatism
A small number of punks are conservative, embracing the punk lifestyle while rejecting the left-wing and anarchist views held by the majority of the subculture. Notable conservative punks include: Michale Graves, Johnny Ramone, Lee Ving, Joe Escalante, Bobby Steele and Dave Smalley.
Liberalism
Liberal punks were in the punk subculture from the beginning, and are mostly on the liberal left. Notable liberal punks include: Joey Ramone, Fat Mike, Ted Leo, Crashdog, Hoxton Tom McCourt and Tim McIlrath.
Libertarianism
Examples of libertarian punks include Billie Joe Armstrong (who was registered as a Libertarian Party voter in California)[3], and Joe Young, guitarist for Antiseen.
Neo-Nazism and white nationalism
Main articles: Nazi punk and Rock Against Communism
Nazi punks have a far right, nationalist, fascist, and racist ideology that is closely related to that of white power skinheads. Ian Stuart Donaldson and his band Skrewdriver are credited with popularizing white power rock music, also known as Rock Against Communism.
Nihilism
Centering around a belief in the abject lack of meaning and value to life, nihilism was a fixture in some early punk rock. Nihilist attitudes and aesthetics were apparent in protopunk and punk rock musicians. High unemployment and other socio-political conditions in the United Kingdom led to the punk slogan "No future." Notable nihilist punks include: GG Allin, Iggy Pop, Sid Vicious, Dee Dee Ramone[citation needed], Richard Hell, and Seth Putnam.
Situationism
The Situationist International (SI) was allegedly an early influence on punk ideology in the United Kingdom.[citation needed] Started in continental Europe in the 1950s, the SI was an avant-garde political movement that sought to recapture the ideals of surrealist art and use them to construct new and radical social situations. Malcolm McLaren introduced situationist ideas to punk through his management of the band Sex Pistols.[citation needed] He commandeered the band members’ rebellious working-class tendencies and placed them in the context of his radical politics.[citation needed] Vivienne Westwood, McLaren’s partner and the band’s designer/stylist, expressed situationist ideals through album cover art and fashion that was intended to provoke a specific social response.
Socialism
The Clash were the first strongly political punk rock band, as they introduced socialism to the punk scene. Some of the original Oi! bands expressed a rough form of socialist working class populism — sometimes mixed with patriotism. Many Oi! bands sang about politically-charged topics such as unemployment, police harassment and working class power. Notable socialist and communist punks include: Attila the Stockbroker, James Dean Bradfield, Billy Bragg, Bruce La Bruce, Garry Bushell (until the late 1980s), Chris Dean, Stewart Home, Dennis Lyxzén, Thomas Mensforth, Fermin Muguruza, Picchio, Alberto Pla, Tom Robinson, Justin Sane, Seething Wells, Paul Simmonds, John Sinclair, Joe Strummer, Ian Svenonius, and Paul Weller. In the 1980s, a number of these musicians were involved with Red Wedge.
Straight Edge
Main article: Straight edge
Straight edge, which originated in the American hardcore punk scene, involves abstaining from alcohol, tobacco, and recreational drug use. Some who claim the title straight edge also abstain from caffeine, casual sex and meat. Those more strict individuals may be considered part of the hardline subculture. For some, straight edge is a simple lifestyle preference, but for others it's a political stance. In many cases, it is a rejection of the perceived self-destruction of punk and hardcore culture. Notable straight edgers include: Ian MacKaye, Henry Rollins, Tim McIlrath and Dennis Lyxzén. Unlike the shunning of meat and caffeine, refraining from casual sex was without question a practice in the original straight edge lifestyle, but it has been overlooked by many of the reincarnations of straight edge.
Criticisms of punk ideologies
Punk ideologies have been criticized from outside and within. The anarcho-punk band Crass wrote the song "White Punks on Hope", which, among other things, accuses Joe Strummer of selling out and betraying his earlier principles. Their song "Punk is Dead" attacks corporate co-option of the punk subculture. Dead Kennedys frontman Jello Biafra accused the punk magazine Maximum RocknRoll of "punk fundamentalism" when they refused to advertise Alternative Tentacles records because they said the records "weren't punk". On the Conservative Punk website, Michael Graves of The Misfits argues that punks have become "hippies with mohawks".
Author Jim Goad argues in his essay The Underground is A Lie!, that many punks are hypocrites.[4] He writes that many punks act poor while hiding the fact they come from middle to upper class backgrounds. Goad claims that punk is as outdated and obsolescent as the mainstream it rails against. In Farts from Underground, he claims that the DIY ethic never produces anything original, and it allows poor quality work to be championed.[5] He argues that in being politicized and propagandist, punk contributes to a model of alternative culture that is more bland than the mainstream. In his personal blog, Goad criticized Joe Strummer for pretending to be poor.[6] In another blog post, Goad mocked punks' stereotypical lack of personal hygiene and overreaction to current events.[7].
In their book The Rebel Sell, Joseph Heath and Andrew Potter claim that counterculture politics have failed, and that the punk understanding of society is flawed. They argue that alternative and mainstream lifestyles ultimately have the same values.
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