by Griffin Blum
Punk music was created as a combative voice where people can tackle societal subject in a way that reflects how the performers feel about it. This is articulated when E.K Garrison said, “’Grrrl’ puts the growl back in our pussycat throats. ‘Grrrl’ is intended to recall the naughty, confident and curious ten-year-olds we were before society made it clear it was time to stop being so loud and playing with boys, and concentrate on learning ‘to girl.’” (Garrison, 2010) She emphasizes the frustration women face when they don’t conform to how society thinks girls should behave. Punk is an avenue for repressed emotions and urges to come out and make them known. I believe punk music is popular because others who may not have the courage or platform to vocalize these feelings can relate to what is being said, and can echo their support of expressing your true self regardless of what is “acceptable.” Mimi Nguyen shares a similar sentiment of showing your true colors, and not being ashamed of the person you are because of other people. “So if you’re white, own your whiteness. Don’t assume whiteness describes the world…Challenge what others do.” (Nguyen, 1998) It’s so important nowadays for everyone to be able to freely express him or her, and the world will thus become more accepting of everyone’s differences. Punk has been a controversial avenue of this, as older generations tend to frown upon it, calling it “loud” and “invasive,” but I’d argue that it’s essential to ensuring that everyone has an equal voice and will be respected.
Works Cited
Garrison, Ednie Kaeh. “U.S. Feminism-Grrrl Style! Youth (Sub)Cultures and the Technologics of the Third Wave.” Feminist Studies, vol. 26, no. 1, 2000, p. 141., doi:10.2307/3178596.
Nguyen, Mimi. “It’s (Not) a White World: Looking for Race in Punk (Nov/Dec 1998).” Thread & Circuits, 29 Apr. 2011, threadandcircuits.wordpress.com/2010/03/14/its-not-a-white-world-looking-for-race-in-punk-1998/.
My two songs displaying a refusal to society’s norms are “We’re Not Gonna Take It” by Twisted Sister and “Welcome to Paradise” by Green Day, as both songs reflect a refusal to give in to what other people see as what they should be or do. Both bands aggressively and sternly stand by their image, regardless of what others think.
AFRAM337 