Punk

According to Peter Jones in his article “Anarchy in the UK: ‘70s British Punk as Bakhtinian Carnival,” the subculture of British Punk formed as a rebellion of the repressed youth against a political and economic crisis in the UK. The youth of Britain in the 70s showed their resistance through music, dress, and behavior. Punk subculture questioned the fashion, typography, and above all the music industry. Musicians of the time, led by the Ramones and The Sex Pistols, wrote songs about topics that were considered to be taboo, such as unemployment, consumerism, the police, and royalty. Punk exposed the forgotten and neglected voices of the working-class and females, which were otherwise not listened to. People participating in punk subculture tried to shock and mock those who were wealthy and upper class. Disorder, filth, unrestrained pleasure and ugliness were central to Punk subculture. It was a stark contrast to those who were polished and authoritarian in Britain in the 1970s. During this movement self mutilation and scarification became popular ways to display rebellion. Tattoos, nose and mouth piercing, and wearing underwear on the outside of clothes were all popular symbols of resistance. Today the grotesque body is still the forerunner for everything punk. Punk subculture is still viewed as a rebellion against the government and authority. Punk fashion has become mainstream commercialized with entire stores devoted to black hoodies, Dickies pants, spiked collars, and safety pins, like Hot Topic.