Subcultures have existed at all times. Young people in the hope of expressing their individuality tried to dress in a special way, not like everyone else. The clothes were followed by special thinking, and as a result, it all grew into ideology. The world was covered by a wave of hippies, disco, grunge and punk. Punks are considered one of the most challenging of all directions. Everyone has heard of them, and at the same time there are still people wondering: punks are who? Let's try to figure it out.
From music to subculture
Punks owe their appearance to the same musical direction - punk rock. This style of music appeared in the 70s of the last century in the United States of America and Great Britain. The musicians rebelled against all other rock directions, which at that time became too lyrical and depressing. So punk rock appeared, retaining the arrogance of the good old rock and roll in conjunction with a primitive playing of musical instruments. The primitiveness of the game was deliberate, because punk rock is something that is available to everyone.
In the 70s, the world recognized more and more new groups: Pink Floyd, Deep Purple, Yes, Led Zeppelin, Genesis. They quickly gained universal recognition, and after that, large fees for concerts. The members of these groups lived in expensive mansions, drove in chic limousines with personal bodyguards. What united them with punk youth, they gradually did not have. Their solos on guitars in 12 minutes and performances under a phonogram simply did not resemble what street rebels teenagers so loved.
On November 6, 1975, the London College of Art was shocked by the performance of a defiant punk rock band with an equally defiant title. These were the Sex Pistols. Subsequently, they became the idol of punks. They had what they needed for real punk rock: simple chords, a primitive game that did not require large expenditures, and affordable concerts.
Meaning of the word “punk”
The word "punk" comes from an English colloquial word meaning "bad," "crappy." It is not known exactly how the idea arose of representatives to be called that way: either the anarchist rebels were so called, or because their music was called that way. One way or another, the word stuck.
Ideology
The ideology of punks is based on freedom. Punk subculture advocates the realization of human freedom without any pressure from outside. In other words, if a person is free to walk in what he wants, it means that he really should be able to walk along the street in torn boots and not get a finger poked in the back. Freedom of speech is another important moment for them. In their songs, punks are not shy in expressions, use obscene language, because the right to freedom of speech is guaranteed by many conventions on human rights.
Despite the judgments of society, punk is not a fashion at all, but an idea that gives meaning to the representatives of this trend. Many consider this an age factor, as if this is just what will pass after adolescent rebellious age. In reality, this is not always the case. True punk stays that way for life.
Personality traits
The question of what punk is is not entirely correct. It’s better to ask who punk is, and then everything will immediately become clear. One true representative of the subculture is able to give an idea of what constitutes the whole direction.
Punk is a person striving for independence, in other words, individualism. Such a person, even though he is often in the midst of a noisy company, is a loner by himself. He does not care about society with its problems and the needs of other people. Punks are characterized by anarchy, anti-authoritarianism, anti-homophobia, nihilism. Punk is an asocial person who denies any culture, does not respect the older generation on the principle: "If you are old, then you are respected." He is always against any order, power.
Appearance
Punk subculture has its own characteristics, thanks to which it can be distinguished from all others, including external ones. Despite the fact that the appearance for punks does not really matter, they all look similar.
- Iroquois. This hairstyle originated before the appearance of punks. The Indians did it during their secret rites, so as to scare everyone around. Punks use different options. In the classic version, the hair is shaved, and there remains only a strip of long hair along the head. They are placed with the help of varnish as large needles.
- Hairstyle, "garbage." Suitable for anyone who does not like to bother. Simply shake your hair, and the hairstyle is ready.
- The abundance of accessories. These are chains, rivets, stripes, collars, wristbands, pins. They cover the entire image from head to toe according to the rule "the more the better."
- Torn pants. They are torn either intentionally, in protest, or are not sewn up after a fight at a concert. Even if piquant areas are visible due to holes in the pants, this does not bother anyone, because it’s even better. Punk is always freedom and violation of social norms, and sometimes it can be shocking.
- Black jackets. What distinguishes them from bikers is that they are decorated with spray cans of paint. They can have different inscriptions and many rivets.
In the view of society
Years of practice have shown that people refuse to understand what punk is and what it wants to show the world. According to opinion polls conducted by sociologists in the Russian capital, it was revealed that the majority of the population considers them to be nothing more than people suffering from schizophrenia. They are considered abnormal, sick and ill-bred.
On the one hand, this point of view is quite justified. Many punks themselves do not show their best side when committing crimes. Advocating the freedom of the individual, words, actions, thoughts and views, they did not end up thinking that they themselves violate the same freedom of other people. This is not to say that all punks are like that, because many of them are worthy of respect. Initially, punk is accessible music and a protest against the grayness of life. Over time, turning into a bunch of real ragged, punk lost his true face.
Alas, they are called garbage, as in the 70s. Young people, who once wanted to find freedom, as a result did not find universal recognition. And today there is a decline in punk movement and its replacement with new directions.