Rant - Modern Punk Culture and The Big Fucking Circlejerk
I recently went to a concert in my city; had a few standout acts and one of my favorite crossover thrash bands, D.R.I. Love them to death and I had a fantastic time!
However, as I stood in the back to watch the show and observed the punk denizens like fauna of the untilled soil, I found myself reflecting on what it means to be a 'punk.'
One of the first bands started soon after, and one of their songs was "Sex Work is Real Work," and my thought was... Yeah. No shit. A few viewers were also shouting "ANARCHY!" Like these ideas are revolutionary. What is punk about this? Good music, sure, but where's the snark and bite? Where's the poetry?
This is all to preface a core thesis: Punk should be about doing what's right and building upward, not tearing everything down and repeating what the corporations tell us.
"Sex Work is Real Work" as one of the most anti-punk sentiments possible! Not because Sex Work isn't 'real work,' but because it fails to actually challenge the current idealized view of Sex Work and have the courage to say something crazy like, oh I don't know, the idea that we should try to live in a world where Sex Work isn't some people's ONLY option?
You know what else connects back to Punk's roots of challenging our views and the ideals of the powers that be? Questioning important topics and ideals held today! Where's the punk songs about:
The idea that not all women want the same goals and aspirations as male counterparts
The passion of offline artists
The value of compassion and connection over consensus of ideas
Appreciation of human spirituality in all forms
Challenging why corporations and governments are supporting the 'correct' opinions?
Gender Criticism out of love, not hate
Or what about challenges in fashion and design? Why do Punks need to wear one form of outfit or ideal, did SLC Punk teach us nothing? The old people are wearing what they once wore 40 years ago, and the young people are wearing what they saw on an Instagram Reel or on Pinterest.
While there, I stood out like a sore thumb: everyone there was wearing black, band merch, and/or the 'standard' punk attire. I was also one of the darkest motherfuckers there as a Mex-Am.
Instead of bringing a jacket of my DIY patches or my baseball hat, I decided to do something different. I wore a black long-sleeve undershirt, a nice green shirt with a minimalist sunset scene on the center, jeans, my evil eye necklace, and a side-strap bag with my reading tablet and chargers.
I've always felt passionate about this: Punk should not be about what you wear and how you talk, it's about the ideals you hold and the actions you do.
What's the value of shouting anarchy from the rooftops and tearing down the system, without trying to build something yourself or actually learning where these systems come from?
If you think being punk means wearing the same leather jacket, steel toe boots, spiked hair, then congrats: you're a fucking product. You've been bought, sold, and thrown away.
Modern, Mainstream Punk has become a big progressive circlejerk because Punk is "in." But guess what? If Punk is "in," then it's not punk. That's literally the point. Not to be a contrarian, anarchist, or performative; but to present challenging, complex ideas and nuance against systems that will try their hardest to silence you or, worse, sell you to the worst buyers.
Punk is not about WHAT you're raging against, it's what you're willing and capable of raging FOR. Don't be sold. Don't suppress yourself. Be courageous.
snowghoul
pixelskylines
dailybridgerton
