Share:

Is there still anything to be Punk about? Is anyone who is leading a Punk lifestyle kicking the corpse of a dead movement?Some PCC students believe there still is plenty to be Punk about.

Punk was originally established as a movement that sought to give voice to musician’s views on politics, law enforcement and other social matters including commercialism and consumerism.

Lyrics are an important part of Punk culture, usually expressing dislike in the mainstream status quo often taking shape through blatant statements and talk of disconnection from those things.

That is evident in these lyrics from the song ‘Artificial.’ “Don’t put the blame on me / I was reared with appliances / In a consumer society.”

However, that changed over time. A lot of the political aspects of the music have turned into emotional statements.

Danielle Silveri, 18, who sports classic staples of Punk wear like a band T-shirt, patches, metal studs, and Doc Martins, quoted a lyric from her band: “Live life to live and not to exist.”

On what Punk is, Silveri replied, “it’s just the attitude . it’s not the music, it’s not the fashion, it’s your attitude.”

After Silveri’s comment Troy Dejolwette, 21 chimed in singing, “We’ve got that attitude! / Hey! / We’ve got that attitude!” quoting the song ‘Attitude’ by pioneer D.C.-based Punk band Bad Brains.

Silveri, like many other Punks, partake in the do-it-yourself form of expression that ties directly to the disregard for capitalist agendas of profit and material gain.

Silveri admits to putting high value on clothes that people take the time to make unique and an expression of themselves. Though, according to Silveri, “Anyone can be Punk, you don’t have to dress it.”

Ryan Reveies, 19, said he found himself living a Punk lifestyle as a result of being ostracized by others a number of times and then coming to a personal agreement to not let it get to him. “I like to think of [Punk] as the opposite of . conservative extremism,” said Reveies.

There still are people who listen to Punk bands from the early days of the movement, or who identify with the socio-political aspect of the movement (i.e. anarcho-Punk, socialism, humanism).

“Punk is about embracing your fellow man and putting the group before the individual,” said Ted Socheck, 17. “I think Punk is about now and it’s about the future.”

“I think a lack of materialism is incredibly important in the Punk lifestyle,” he added.

A common issue in today’s Punk culture, as was discussed with the above mentioned individuals, is the fact that there is a constant disagreement on what truly is or is not considered Punk. The conflict between what are known as fundamentalist Punks (aka Nazi-Punks), and new age Punk is an ongoing thing.

Follow: