PUNK
... society, authority, conformity and religion amongst other things. Punk music was the voice of the youth. It all started with the music but it was so much more then just music to the followers of Punk, it was a way of life. Punk was always about rebellion and discontent but it was also about politics. The political ideology of Punk is anarchism. Punks are often active in trying to change their countries political systems. Punks are against authority as they feel authority corrupts humans. They feel any form of authority such as police; religion and government are dangerous and wrong. Police brutality and discrimination towards Punks also account for these opinions. Punks are against so many things, such as military, religion, patriotism and the media. All of these things are seen as forms of control by the government. Punks feel that the media is a form of social control. Punks support certain lifestyles and causes such as environmentalism, non-conformity, direct action, vegetarianism and veganism. Punks take direct action for the causes they support. As well as boycotts and protests, Punks sometimes take direct radical action. Such as destroying public property to make a stand against materialism. Punks’ relationship to the mainstream is an ironic one as Punk is so against the mainstream and everything it stands for. However the Punk movement has had quite an influence on many aspects of the mainstream and has been acceptably integrated into it. Influences of Punk can be heard seen in fashion, music and design. This is quite ironic as Punk is against all of these things. Punk influences can be seen these days in high fashion labels such as French Connection and Louis Vuitton. Punk made distressed clothing and fabrics acceptable. Although torn fabrics, frayed edges and controversial prints are common and acceptable today, in the 1970s this was shocking and new to the average person. It influenced the trend of unisex clothing and purposely destroyed and damaged clothing. Punks wore neck chains with padlocks and razor blades. These can be seen on the fashion scene today simply made fashionable and acceptable by being made from gold. Punks also made body piercing an accepted practice and now many people have piercing and tattoos as a socially acceptable adornment. Punk influences are also seen in the popular music scene. Many pop and rock bands use Punk styles and are influenced by Punk music and bands. They incorporate the sounds and certain aspects of Punk with the marketable accepted sounds of pop and rock. The visual aspects of Punk are most obviously the Punk style of dress, Punk hairstyles and Punk art. The Punk clothes suited the budget constraints and lifestyle faced due to unemployment and circumstances of being a student. Punks cut up old clothing from thrift shops, destroyed fabric and redesigned outfits. These garments were meant to attract attention. Pants were torn deliberately to show ripped stockings and chunky boots (often Doc Martens) were worn by both male and female. There was also a distinct bondage element in Punk fashion such as black leather, studs and chains. Jewellery was also harsh and homemade such as chains and padlocks or razors. Punks often had multiple body piercings in areas other then the usually accepted ears such as facial and body piercings. Punk hairstyles are also notable with hair that was spiked very high in a Mohican style. Hair was often coloured green or pink with food dyes and was intended to shock and attract attention ...