Explain Why Punk Rock Began In The 1970's
Why did Punk Rock begin in the 1970s?
The nineteen seventies was an era of experimental and reactionary creation (Larkin, 1997, p339). The mid seventies marked the coming of a new genre of music; Punk Rock. Disco was dead and a fresh form of rebellion was born with Punk Rock exploding onto the U.S and English music scenes with attitudes and aesthetics reminiscent of American 1950s Rock and Roll (Larkin, 1997, p339). “The utopian idealism of the sixties had been drained off, leaving a bitter residue of guilt, narcissism, and boredom- a vacuum that punk filled.” (Rombes, 2009, p29). This quote suggests that Punk Rock was more or less a political statement, which like most, was a product of the attitudes of the time; the excitement of the revolutionary nineteen sixties had fizzled and from the “boredom” emerged …show more content…
Not only do they bare an aesthetic likeness, but also their following with both genres of music playing a key role in the uprising of a “Youth Culture” (Larkin, 1997, p339). As Bourdieu observed, “nothing more clearly affirms one’s class, nothing more infallibly classifies, than taste in music.” (Shuker, 1994, p16). Punk adhered to this, as it’s lyrics and cultural attitudes were based on youthful ideals such as rebellion, nihilism, obscenity, violence, sexuality and attitudes towards school (Shuker, 1994, p16 & p251). But why? Did the young people simple seek a commercial outlet to voice their opinions and anger or was it all out of boredom? Boredom is a recurring theme in many iconic Punk anthems (see “I’m Bored”- Iggy Pop, “I Just Wanna Have Something To Do”- The Ramones and “Boredom”- The Buzzcocks, to name a few). Boredom is another quality widely associated with teenagers in particular, and for nineteen seventies youths the post sixties lifestyle was all but thrilling but with the invention of
The nineteen seventies was an era of experimental and reactionary creation (Larkin, 1997, p339). The mid seventies marked the coming of a new genre of music; Punk Rock. Disco was dead and a fresh form of rebellion was born with Punk Rock exploding onto the U.S and English music scenes with attitudes and aesthetics reminiscent of American 1950s Rock and Roll (Larkin, 1997, p339). “The utopian idealism of the sixties had been drained off, leaving a bitter residue of guilt, narcissism, and boredom- a vacuum that punk filled.” (Rombes, 2009, p29). This quote suggests that Punk Rock was more or less a political statement, which like most, was a product of the attitudes of the time; the excitement of the revolutionary nineteen sixties had fizzled and from the “boredom” emerged …show more content…
Not only do they bare an aesthetic likeness, but also their following with both genres of music playing a key role in the uprising of a “Youth Culture” (Larkin, 1997, p339). As Bourdieu observed, “nothing more clearly affirms one’s class, nothing more infallibly classifies, than taste in music.” (Shuker, 1994, p16). Punk adhered to this, as it’s lyrics and cultural attitudes were based on youthful ideals such as rebellion, nihilism, obscenity, violence, sexuality and attitudes towards school (Shuker, 1994, p16 & p251). But why? Did the young people simple seek a commercial outlet to voice their opinions and anger or was it all out of boredom? Boredom is a recurring theme in many iconic Punk anthems (see “I’m Bored”- Iggy Pop, “I Just Wanna Have Something To Do”- The Ramones and “Boredom”- The Buzzcocks, to name a few). Boredom is another quality widely associated with teenagers in particular, and for nineteen seventies youths the post sixties lifestyle was all but thrilling but with the invention of