punk indie pres

What's "Punk" about What's "Punk" about Cyberpunk?: Cyberpunk?: Cultures of ResistanceCultures of Resistance

American Studies 282American Studies 282Rutgers UniversityRutgers UniversityProf. Cornelius CollinsProf. Cornelius CollinsSpring 2011Spring 2011

PUNK / CYBERPUNKPUNK / CYBERPUNK

WHAT IS PUNK?WHAT IS PUNK?

(WHAT WAS PUNK?)(WHAT WAS PUNK?)


A working definition 1/3A working definition 1/3

Punk: Punk:

a movement in late-1970s American and a movement in late-1970s American and British cultures that through negation British cultures that through negation and refusal attacked the dominant, and refusal attacked the dominant, professionalized modes of production professionalized modes of production in those fieldsin those fields

Beginning in music, extending to fashion and Beginning in music, extending to fashion and graphic designgraphic design



CritiqueCritique

the the inauthentic inauthentic style and message of style and message of rock music (and rock music (and mass culture mass culture more more broadly) for promoting passivity and broadly) for promoting passivity and conformityconformity

DemandDemand

the search for more authentic the search for more authentic experiences -- including, potentially, experiences -- including, potentially, violence -- and creation of violence -- and creation of alternative, alternative, organic organic communitiescommunities



RenewalRenewal

Addressed decline and stagnation of Addressed decline and stagnation of dominant culture and society dominant culture and society

Recognized Recognized conflictsconflicts -- problems that -- problems that mainstream culture prefers to mask, mainstream culture prefers to mask, cover, and ignorecover, and ignore


Failure?Failure?

The first wave of the movement was The first wave of the movement was soon soon appropriated appropriated

But inspired the founding of a family But inspired the founding of a family of related postpunk movements, of related postpunk movements, networks, and scenesnetworks, and scenes


Do-it-yourselfDo-it-yourself

"Like most people growing up in liberal "Like most people growing up in liberal societies and liberal economies, societies and liberal economies, I was used to politics, products, and I was used to politics, products, and entertainment being created and carried entertainment being created and carried out by others for me, my own action being out by others for me, my own action being limited to spending a dollar and casting a limited to spending a dollar and casting a vote. Punk taught me to DIY: vote. Punk taught me to DIY: Do-it-yourself. The idea that I could Do-it-yourself. The idea that I could create my own culture -- 'do-it-myself' -- create my own culture -- 'do-it-myself' -- was for me revolutionary, as it carried was for me revolutionary, as it carried within it the promise that I could also within it the promise that I could also create my own politics and my own world"create my own politics and my own world"


Cultural resistanceCultural resistance

"The dominant system is one of such complete "The dominant system is one of such complete ideological and material hegemony than any ideological and material hegemony than any cultural expression, even if it appears cultural expression, even if it appears rebellious, is ... repackaged and rebellious, is ... repackaged and transformed into a component of the status transformed into a component of the status quo. ... [But] the very activity of quo. ... [But] the very activity of producing culture has political meaning. In producing culture has political meaning. In a society built around the principle that we a society built around the principle that we should consume what others have produced for should consume what others have produced for us, throwing an illegal warehouse rave or us, throwing an illegal warehouse rave or creating an underground music label -- that creating an underground music label -- that is creating your own culture -- takes on a is creating your own culture -- takes on a rebellious resonance." (Stephen Duncombe)rebellious resonance." (Stephen Duncombe)

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