Senior Capstone ℅ 2018

5-24-2018

The Punk Effect: An Autoethnography

Matias Alejandro Stocker

Los Angeles Leadership Academy HS, mstocker101461@laleadership.org
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Senior Capstone ℅ 2018

The Punk Effect: An Autoethnography

Abstract

The purpose of this research paper is to study the effects of the punk genre on the self-expression

and mindset of adolescents as well as discuss the beneficiality of those effects. Punk music is

generally seen by the adult generation as negative but, studies show that punk has beneficial

influences on those who are exposed to it. Drawing from sources such as scholarly journals and

articles in which people are interviewed, this paper seeks to enlighten those who are curious to

learn about the true effects of punk music.

Keywords:​ ​punk, adolescent, emotion, expression, community

Acknowledgements

Gnarburger Records for their free shop shows.

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The Punk Effect: An Autoethnography 

 
Matias Alejandro Stocker 
Los Angeles Leadership Academy HS, Los Angeles​, California, 
USA 
 
The purpose of this research paper is to study the effects of the punk genre on the

self-expression and mindset of adolescents as well as discuss the beneficiality of

those effects. Punk music is generally seen by the adult generation as negative

but, studies show that punk has beneficial influences on those who are exposed to

it. Drawing from sources such as scholarly journals and articles in which people

are interviewed, this paper seeks to enlighten those who are curious to learn

about the true effects of punk music.

The Incident

Meat Jesus Reloaded, an underground punk music festival, on a Saturday afternoon: the

day after my 17th birthday. Admission was $10, but my old middle school pal Jaime got me in

for free because he was selling his homemade shirts and patches and I was helping him. The

venue was an old warehouse and an outdoor patio down by the train tracks cutting through

Lincoln Heights, Los Angeles. There were three empty spaces to be used as stages: one inside,

two outside, just far enough apart so that the music from one band did not interfere too much

with the others. I spent most of the first couple hours trading posts with Jaime, switching
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between trying to sell his products on a piece of cardboard and going to check out the bands up

close. It was never boring because no matter where I was, I could feel a steady bass drum, pacing

its way through my heart down to my feet onto the floor. I could feel the distorted, rhythmic

power chords in my neck, its fuzz rocking me back and forth. I watched the people around me.

Everyone looked like a rainbow covered in bear traps. These bear traps were just for show

because everyone beamed with energy and friendliness. As the sky became darker, the bands

played harder; the band Plumber had the honor of starting the first mosh pit in which the singer

became enraged and started screaming at the audience to get in the circle. Jaime and I took down

the shop so that we could get a small taste of the energetic dancing, an appetizer for the main

course: Dumb Fucks. I had been scouting for Dumb Fucks ever since I heard they would be

playing. I had only seen them perform live once and I wasn’t exactly sure what they looked like

so I looked for the people who most looked like either they had just come back from boot camp

or Kenickie Murdoch from ​Grease​. Finally, the sky was a few shades from black and Dumb

Fucks were next onstage. The crowd built up. It was now full of the familiar faces of strangers.

They started with steady, fast-paced, chord-based riff. It sounded like a buzzsaw calling

our attention, telling the crowd to get ready to mosh. The drums kicked in and we were sent off

to battle. I was flying. The pit circled like a whirlpool. Try to escape and you’d get sucked right

back in. We all moved chaotically in unison. Arms swinging. Legs kicking. Sweaty bodies

colliding. But we weren’t fighting. We were living. The music drew the bottled energy out of us.

It was like we were all in agreement that this was the time to go wild. There was no judging.

There was no hate. If you fell, you’d be picked right back up. Even the band was part of it. When

the singer wasn’t screaming, he was shoving everyone who stumbled by him. I knocked into the
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drumset and no one cared. This was all part of the pit. When the music slowed down, the pit

stopped. It was just me and a few others circling around while the singer prepared us for the next

breakdown. I realized I could do whatever I wanted here. Everyone was in their own world,

being fueled by the music. We were all here to feel alive. We were here to express ourselves.

The drums kicked in again and we were flying.

Analysis

Introduction

I'm a person just like you

But I've got better things to do

Than sit arou​nd and fuck my head

Hang out with the living dead

Snort white shit up my nose

Pass out at the shows

I don't even think about speed

That's something I just don't need

I've got the straight edge

I'm a person just like you

But I've got better things to do

Than sit around and smoke dope

Cause I know I can cope

Laugh at the thought of eating 'ludes

Laugh at the thought of sniffing glue

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Always gonna keep in touch

Never want to use a crutch

(Minor Threat, “Straight Edge”, 1981)

Minor Threat was an 1980’s American hardcore punk band, that kickstarted the “straight

edge” lifestyle of abstaining from drugs and alcohol which became popular amongst teens. In

their song “Straight Edge”, singer Ian MacKaye describes his hate towards abusing mind-altering

drugs (1981). Punk generally has a negative connotation with those who aren’t familiar with it.

Strangers to the genre generally assume it exclusively promotes drugs and criminal activities.

This is not the case. Punk is an extremely broad genre with multiple subcultures such as straight

edge and even veganism. Most of these subcultures promote happiness, freedom, and

individuality. Even punkers such as G.G. Allin, who put on displays of graphic violence and

sexuality, explain that they do what they do to teach kids to not care what other people think and

to do what makes them happy.

Study of Focus

Punk is a genre of music that boomed in popularity in the 1970’s arising from the

Generation X produced by the 1950’s suburbia. It is primarily derived from rock and metal

music; it it is loud, raw, and energetic. The genre is widely popular with young adolescents.

Along with the music came an image and lifestyle that became just as recognized as the music. A

Pitchfork ​article clarifies punk as, “more than just a sound, it’s a whole way of being—a

philosophy, an attitude, and, crucially, a look” (2018, para. 2). In an article by ​The Signal​ it is

clear that the punk mindset is positive:

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New York hardcore band Warzone says this about the hardcore scene: ‘In unity

there’s power, in power there’s chance, to make a positive change’. Warzone had

this belief in the 1980s, and from their mindset and similar mindsets, it became a

staple in the hardcore guidelines. The goal? Helping people understand that being

rebellious isn’t always about violence and hatred. Justin Little, member of the

Atlanta hardcore scene, said the music is all about reflecting the positive ideals of

the people. ​(Boekeloo, Jenkins, Maxouris, 2018, para. 8)

Being involved in punk music involves adopting an attitude in which one freely expresses

themselves, always staying headstrong when faced with contradiction. Ultimately then, from

examining the habits portrayed by adolescents in the punk music scene, it is clear that punk

music influences teens to express and be themselves, release and manage their emotions

effectively, and create healthy communities and bonds with others.

Punk inspires individuality

Young adolescents need a space to express themselves without being judged. Punk

culture provides such a space. Writer and musician, John Robb, defines punk as, “​a questioning

attitude and not just slavishly following the rules. Punk means different things for every person”

(Lynskey, 2012, para. 9). This means that punk is explicitly about following one’s own path and

being oneself. In an interview conducted by Ian P. Moran (2011), the interviewee, Rob,

explained that:

I found punk through an overwhelming feeling of not fitting with others and not

wanting to fit in with others. I liked to be the person who no one understood and

who liked things no one else liked. Maybe I just craved attention, but I could not
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stand the idea of liking things because you wanted to be accepted by others. (p.4)

Rob describes how punk was the perfect outlet for the way he felt at age 11. It allowed him to

stylize himself and express himself freely (Moran, 2011, p. 5). Punk is branded as the place to go

for those who needed to separate from mainstream society. When teens listen to punk and enter

the culture, they are making a statement that they are who they are and no one can tell them

otherwise. This type of independent and confident mindset allows adolescents to achieve more

because they can fully pursue their goals without becoming unmotivated or dissuaded.

Punk helps teens release and manage their emotions effectively

Although this applies to people of all ages, mental health and and emotion stability is

important, especially to teens who are learning more about the world and themselves. Leah

Sharman and Genevieve A. Dingle of University of Queensland, Australia, conducted a study in

which a select amount of people were given an anger interview in which anger was induced

(Moore, 2015, para. 4). In this study, half the participants remained in silence for a period of

time, and the other half listened to music of their choice of which they all chose extreme [punk]

music. The results of the experiment supported ​that “listening to extreme music helps process

and regulate anger” (Moore, 2015, para. 3). This is scientific evidence that punk music is

effective at managing anger. Additionally after the participants listened to music they reported

feeling more ‘active’ and ‘inspired’ (Moore, para. 5). ​Not only did the participants manage their

anger, they also channeled it and transformed it into positive emotions. Through punk music,

adolescents who are struggling with their lives and feel stressed or angry can relieve themselves

of their negative emotions and become more content and motivated.

Punk creates healthy communities for teens

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Adolescents thrive when they have friendships that support them. In an article by ​The

Signal​, the effects of the community created by punk is exemplified:

Hardcore’s sense of community has given it the power to grow and spread

different movements that can make a positive change on an individual like

veganism as well as straight edge, which could better someone’s life by

discouraging them from using drugs and drinking alcohol. (Boekeloo, Jenkins,

Maxouris, 2018, para. 8)

Resulting from Ian P. Moran’s interviews: ​“Brandon, Ryan, Matt, and Rob all stated that the

exposure to the actual punk music was from family and friends. One can see why the punk

subculture might be attractive to a child in search of himself or herself, especially due to its

accepting nature” (Moran, 2011, p. 6). Put plainly, punk is accepting. A healthy environment is

one in which you don’t have to change for acceptance by your peers. Punk fosters “the desire to

build a community with like-minded souls” (Lynskey, 2012, para. 10). Punk is composed of

welcoming communities, often already containing the family and friends of people joining.

Overall this is beneficial, as argued by Mike Sabbath, because “People really can make a huge

difference in music and the shared communities that come out of it” (Lynskey, para. 13). ​In this

environment, teens can grow healthily to be the best they can be and navigate their life with the

support of their fellow punkers.

Opinion

Punk has effects on adolescents and it is clear that those effects are positive. For anyone

to succeed it is important that they have a platform and foundation to learn and grow. Punk is

open to everyone and provides the space teens need to be content. Lynskey reports that “punk
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has often been an unusually progressive arena for women and people of different races and

sexualities” (Lynskey, para. 12). The culture formed in punk is accepting of all races, sexualities,

and backgrounds and doesn’t require people to change themselves if they want to be a part of it.

This is beneficial towards teens because they have a secure safety to fall back on. Even if

someone doesn’t participate much in the culture, they can still find security and motivation in the

music. Punk influences teens to be themselves, manage their emotions effectively, and create

healthy communities. Although it is seen as detrimental to young minds, punk does positively

affect teens. The outsider attitude towards punk needs to change. Punk does not destroy minds as

many would like to believe.

Conclusion

In conclusion punk isn’t as dangerous as people make it out to be. Punk is a perfectly

healthy way for teens to express themselves, cope, and socialize. Parents often disapprove of

their children joining the punk scene but Moore, Ph.D., articulates to parents that they should not

be worried for their teens’ emotional health when they listen to punk, but rather try to understand

their teens’ emotions at that time (2015, para. 8). However punk will always be confusing to the

mainstream and conforming population. If punk followed the rules it wouldn’t be punk anymore.

Teens who choose to navigate society with punk music should not be shamed or excluded by the

adult world, but recognized.

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References

Boekeloo, A., Jenkins, J., Maxouris, C. (2018). “​Influence: How hardcore, rap and punk are

impacting youth”. ​The Signal​.

http://georgiastatesignal.com/influence-hardcore-rap-punk-impacting-youth/

Lynskey, D. (2012). “No future? Punk is still the sound of youth rebellion the world over”. ​The

Guardian​.

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/jun/01/no-future-punk-youth-rebellion

Manrique, M. (2017). “Wild Wings + Dumb Fucks + Kuromi @ The Smell”. ​LA Record​.

http://larecord.com/photos/2017/11/11/wild-wing-dumb-fucks-kuromi-the-smell

Minor Threat. (1981). “Straight Edge”. ​Minor Threat​. Dischord.

Moran, Ian P. (2011). "Punk: The Do-It-Yourself Subculture," ​Social Sciences Journal​: Vol. 10:

Iss. 1. http://www.tezu.ernet.in/dmass/CBCT/Punk.pdf

Pitchfork. (2018). “Rip it to shreds: A history of punk and style”. ​Pitchfork​.

https://pitchfork.com/features/from-our-partners/9943-rip-it-to-shreds-a-history-of-punk-

and-style/