Punk Rock: A History of Expressions of Emancipative Social Capital Craig Talmage (presenter)

Richard Knopf (co-author)

Bjorn Peterson (co-author)

Mikulas Pstross (co-author)

From Arizona State University’s

Partnership for Community Development

You only get one life. This one is not rehearsal. Anyone can start their own band – Aaron, Punk Rock Fan, 2014

Punk can be Pedagogical What does it teach us still today?

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Attention! Attention! May I have all your eyes and ears to the front of the room, if only, if only for one second - Attention, The Academy Is, 2005

Society, We all know there's something wrong, and we know it all along . Sincerity, You may think there's no one else till they put you on a shelf Society, Pay your taxes stand in line help them plan for your demise Society, Crush the weak to get your share cause nobody's playing fair And no one cares - Society, Pennywise, 1997

Emancipative Social Capital

Self-expression values and elite-challenging action may have the greatest “civic” payoff (Welzel et al., 2006).

Elite-challenging action does not undermine the creation of social capital or its promulgation of “civic” values (Welzel, Inglehart, & Deutsch, 2006).

Semiotic practice: Self-questioning and dispute (Kristeva, 1986; 2002). Public political action: Petitions, demonstration, boycotts, strikes and occupations of buildings (Welzel et al., 2006).

Self-expression values can spur elite-challenging actions; they combine to form social capital with “a strong emancipative thrust” (Welzel et al., 2006, p. 141).

Punk is a Social Capital Approach Reflections on Emancipative Social Capital

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God save the queen, the fascist regime. They made you a moron, potential H-bomb. God save the queen. She ain't no human being. There is no future, in England's dreaming. Don't be told what you want. Don't be told what you need. There's no future, no future, No future for you - God Save the Queen, The Sex Pistols, 1977

Are you locked up in a world that's been planned out for you? Are you feeling like a social tool without a use? Scream at me until my ears bleed, I'm taking heed just for you...She's figured out all her doubts were someone else's point of view, waking up this time to smash the silence with the brick of self-control. - She, Green Day, 1994.

History of Punk

Pre-Wave Protopunk (mid-1960s to mid-1970s)

The First Wave: The Birth of Punk Rock (mid- to late-1970s)

Second-Wave: The Rise of L.A. Punk and Death of the Underground Movement (late-1970s to 1980s)

New Waves Above Ground: The Rise of Pop Punk (1990s)

Pop Punk Gets Back a Part of Its Soul (2000s)

Pop Punk Saves Rock and Roll: Well Maybe (2008 to Today)

You are what you love. Not who loves you. In a world full of the word 'Yes,’ I'm here to scream, ‘No, no.’ Wherever I go, go, Trouble seems to follow. I only plugged in to save rock and roll – Save Rock and Roll, Fall Out Boy (featuring Elton John), 2013

Flavors of Punk

Pure Punk

Pop (Populist) Punk

Emo

Hardcore / Post-Hardcore

Horror Punk

New Wave

Screamo

Metalcore

Soul Punk

Art Punk

Ska Punk

Anything that holds its core values

What is Punk (Rock)? The Worst Question in the World (Diehl, 2007)

Are you ready for another bad poem? One more off key anthem; Let your teeth sink in; Remember me as I was not as I am. - Rat A Tat, Fall Out Boy, 2013.

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They might try to tell you how you can live your life, but don't, don't forget it's your right to do whatever you like, you like, ‘cause you could be your own spotlight...You could be the star, you can shine so bright...'Cause they're gonna tell you all the rules to break to take away that light from somebody, somebody now. – Spotlight [New Regrets], Patrick Stump, 2011.

Punk Rock is…

“What it means to be human” (Graffin, 1998, para. 7).

“The essence of punk remains a paradox; so simple to execute, so hard to describe -- although everyone tries…The only hard, fast rule of punk rock is…no rules” (Diehl, 2007, p. 30-31).

“The major problem with trying to explain punk is that it is not something that fits neatly into a box or categories. Not surprising as punk had made the explicit aim of trying to destroy all boxes and labels” (O’Hara, 1999, p. 11).

Punk is not dead; it continues to be recycled and recomposed with different elements in each of its iterations (Diehl, 2007).

“It gives me a terrible headache” - ASU Student, 2014.

Punk Rock is…

A Youth Trend…

Gut Rebellion and Change…

A Formidable Voice of Opposition…

Teenagers scare the living shit out of me; they could care less as long as someone'll bleed; so darken your clothes or strike a violent pose; maybe they'll leave you alone, but not me - Teenagers, My Chemical Romance, 2006.

Red carpet and rebellion; makes ya wonder at the established ones; they ain't out to get ya; cause you're a mile away - Red Carpet and Rebellion, The Distillers, 2000.

The wind is shifting; something’s different in the air. I see it in the form of choices everywhere, and I've been asleep a lifetime just to wake in time to find...the voice that has been speaking for me is no voice of mine! Now you’ve just been spoken for! Now you’ve just been sold! - No Voice of Mine, Strung Out, 2004.

A Youth Trend

“That sound of undiluted lost adolescence, all tentative, quivering voices and speedy caffeinated rush, is still evoked today” (Diehl, 2007, p. 32).

“Rebellious youths have been drawn to [rock n’ roll]…for decades, but as a whole it has been merely a part of the ever growing entertainment industry” (O’Hara, 1999, p. 24).

The heavy youth-focus masks the self-expressive nature of punk (O’Hara, 1999).

“Punk is the personal expression of uniqueness that comes from the experiences of growing up in touch with our human ability to reason and ask questions” (Graffin, 1998, para. 9).

We're all fighting growing old in the hopes of a few minutes more to get on St. Peter's list, but you need to lower your standards ‘cause it's never getting any better than this - Rat A Tat, Fall Out Boy, 2013.

Gut Rebellion and Change

“Rebellion is one of the few undeniable characteristics of punk…implicit in the meaning of Punk and its music and lyrics” (O’Hara, 1999, p. 38).

“Punk…serves to refute social attitudes that have been perpetuated through willful ignorance of human nature” (Graffin, 1998, para. 15).

“Rebellion has to be part of the response to rigid social institutions, or stagnation is assured...Institutions, by and large, strive for permanence, and they almost always see life through a formulaic lens and strongly disfavor individuality and change” (Graffin & Olson, 2010, p. 142).

So, why do we do what they tell us? Why do we do what they say? Why do we do what they tell us? Why am I controlled by what they say? - Question the Answer, Strike Anywhere, 2005.

He's a rebel; it's plain to see. Punk rock rebel so full of strife, he's a rebel; and he'll always be, someone who changed my life - Punk Rock Rebel, Millencolin, 2002.

Formidable Voice of Opposition

“Punk is a process of questioning and commitment to understanding that results in self-progress, and by extrapolation, could lead to social progress” (Graffin 1998, para. 23).

Its ethic reflects a declaration of the oxymoronic ideal of non-egocentric individualism; it is about finding one’s voice to speak truth to power (O’Hara, 1999; Diehl, 2007).

“Maintaining a state of punk rockness revolves around maintaining a sense of individuality” (Diehl, 2007, p. 33).

And now I've got a big question mark above my head…nothing is right and nothing is wrong…And now I've got a big answer to all my friends, who didn`t understand at all, who didn`t get my way of living. This isn't something you learn at school. This is not a fucking pose. It is something that comes from inside; yeah, something that I can call my life. – Question + Answer, Useless ID, 2000.

Well, What is Punk Then?

“Punk is a belief that this world is what we make of it, truth comes from our understanding of the way things are, not from the blind adherence to prescriptions about the way things should be (Graffin, 1998, para. 29)…Punk is the constant struggle against fear of social repercussions” (para. 41).

“The crisis of individual expression lies at the core, ultimately, of both the original punk movement and what constitutes it today...however, we live in an era when the idea of punk rock as an oasis of personal expression is under fire” (Diehl, 2007, p. 33-34).

From here to eternity, we begin understanding. From here to eternity I see who you are and who else can compare. I meant what I said, I promised to stand by your side. Until the end, that's where we begin. Until the end, that's where we begin - The Beginning, As I Lay Dying, 2003.

Punk Led Us to a Process of Inquiry Foundational Principles and Their Core

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So where do we go and what do we do? You're asking me and I'm asking you…The way you think depends on what you're going through. What you create comes from deep inside of you What you know makes the difference in what you hate. What you love depends on how you relate. Inquiring minds want to know – Inquiring, MXPX, 1995.

Aware

Informed Empathy versus Ignorant Apathy

Cause we all wait for something else to save us. With eyes closed we find it all the differences left us dead (inside). We can't walk the line unconscious this time. Cause our apathy is a deathwish. Blank stares across the room take in the dead broadcast. All ambitions disappear waiting for our lives to pass. How long will this last? – Apathy is a Deathwish, Story of the Year, 2008.

Wake up, wake up, wake up, the world is changing. Someone else's sorrow, I can't hear it, Someone else's sorrow now, and take back life's remote control – Consequential Apathy, RX Bandits, 2001.

Open the eyes, look at this wall and notice the one that borrows and steals. I do this to myself. Stick to the side roads, They help interesting thoughts. You see what you want to see. – Apathy is a Cold Body, Poison the Well, 2003.

Expressive

Individuation versus Conformity

Try, still you got nowhere, try and stay in line. And live by all the rules they say to follow. Try to conform in my head. They'll feed you bullshit you should swallow. Try their style don't give up, you will blend in - Try to Conform, Pennywise, 1993

We're not gonna be, Just apart of their game. We're not gonna be, Just the victims. They're taking our dreams, And they tear them apart, 'til everyone's the same. I've got no place to go. I've got no where to run. They love to watch me fall. They think they know it all. I'm a nightmare, a disaster. That's what they always said. I'm a lost cause, not a hero. But I'll make it on my own. I've gotta prove them wrong…It's me against the world - Me Against the World, Simple Plan, 2004

All I want, All I need, Always lies just out of reach. I've been coming up empty. I ran as fast as I can run. I pushed as hard as anyone. But still there's nothing for me. I've tried as hard as I can. I've taken all I can stand. But I am running a race, Against myself – Race Against Myself, The Offspring, 2003.

Challenging

Altruism versus Egocentrism

Sons and daughters of a dream, The urge to struggle for an ideal, To stay and fight, Oppose war fever, Refuse to kill or be killed. There's voices calling in the wind. Power to the Peaceful With a readiness for war, They come down hard in dissent of all forms, Blood and militarism has swept the country by storm. There's voices calling in the wind. Power to the Peaceful - Power to the Peaceful, Anti-Flag, 2003

When all soldiers lay their weapons down, or when all kings and all queens relinquish their crowns. Or when the only true messiah rescues us from ourselves, it's easy to imagine… there will be sorrow no more - Sorrow, Bad Religion, 2002

From a nation under God, I feel its love like a cattle prod. Born free, but still they hate. Born me, no I can't change. It's always darkest just before the dawn. So stay awake with me, let's prove them wrong. Make it stop. Let this end, Eighteen years pushed to the ledge. It's come to this, A weightless step. On the way down singing, Woah, woah. – Make It Stop (September’s Children), Rise Against, 2011

Active

Reaction versus Idleness

I may never be quite satisfied, but that's the only way I know. I am overcome with sympathy for your pathetic soul. Breathe in the air while you still can. Take all that you have while you still can. Sleep all night while you still can. – Action Needs an Audience, Jimmy Eat World, 2010.

My dearest friends…I felt this thing, I can't replace. Where everyone was working for this goal - The Adventure, Angels & Airwaves, 2006.

Resister go, As long as it takes, To reverse the hypocrisy, Challenge the stakes. – Chalkline, Strike Anywhere, 2001.

Revolution rock, it is a brand new rock. A bad, bad rock, this here revolution rock. Everybody smash up your seats and rock to this, Brand new beat. This here music mash up the nation. This here music cause a sensation. Tell your ma, tell your pa everything's gonna be all right. Can't you feel it? Don't ignore it. Gonna be alright - Revolution Rock, The Clash, 1979.

Don’t Sell Out!

Authentic Punk versus Poser

I'm gonna need you to try to follow along. I did the best that I could to try to write you songs. Now go tell them we sold out, like we're the ones who changed. I write what I feel, I say what I mean. You can't buy sincerity. I sold my soul to the open road. I'll live my life alone! - The Downfall of Us All, A Day To Remember, 2011.

My politics don’t sell clothes, and rights don’t sell my songs. If I vote for something, it’s something I can see – Politics, The Damned, 1977.

How can you ask me to just forget? All the sick lines, And the words you said. How can you ask me to just forget? Deny the promises you've made, The things you said, That you hold dear. Behind your empty words, You hide and wait, Until that you fall in the clear - Sometimes Selling Out is Giving Up, Rise Against, 2001.

His name is "captain anarchy”, But only in his mind…So punk that he's a poser and he'll be one till he dies! – Captain Anarchy, Anti-Flag, 1999.

Thank You Questions and Comments are Welcome Please Contact: Craig Talmage (ctalmage@asu.edu)