PDF] Punk: The Do-It-Yourself Subculture

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58 The punk movement is often viewed as a youth culture based on teen adolescence angst. However, punk as a subculture goes much further than rebellion and fashion as punks generally seek an alternative lifestyle divergent from the norms of society. The do-it-yourself, or D.I.Y. aspect of punk is one of the most important factors fueling the subculture. Independent record labels, the D.I.Y. press, and the D.I.Y. venues are what have kept the punk subculture alive since the late 1970s. The creation of the punk subculture has allowed individuals who seek an alternative lifestyle to thrive. The D.I.Y. record labels and independent pressing system creates a social network that allows for punk music and ideologies to be distributed. This social networking allows punk bands to travel from city to city playing at D.I.Y. venues and fueling the overall subculture. What are the core values of the punk subculture that allow the D.I.Y. lifestyle to succeed? This research will investigate how the D.I.Y. record labels and independent press reinforce the social networking which allows the subculture to survive. What makes it possible for virtually unknown bands to partake in international tours across the globe? This research will examine how punk bands have created a network that is strong enough to support bands from other countries. The core values within the punk subculture seem to be universal. The values and music of the punk subculture are being transplanted into many different cultures around the world today. This research will also explore how modern technology has enhanced networking capabilities and changed the D.I.Y. punk movement as a whole. The research will also examine the reason behind the devotion and allegiance punks feel towards the D.I.Y. aspect of the subculture and explore if the purpose of the D.I.Y. aspect of the punk subculture is strictly a rebellion against consumerism. This qualitative analysis will attempt to show how various individuals have created as well as survived in the punk subculture and will be conducted through in-depth interviews with informants who have specific roles in the punk community and extensive knowledge of the subculture. Informants will be chosen based on their active status and contribution to the punk subculture, and across different age groups to provide a sample of how the D.I.Y. values of the punk subculture may vary. People from Boston, MA, New York City, NY, Los Angeles, CA, Richmond, VA, St. Louis, MO, and various towns in Connecticut will be interviewed to examine the variation of the core values of punk by location. Interviews will be conducted with the owners of a D.I.Y. record label and printing press to gain knowledge of the core values that hold the punk subculture together. Interviews with multiple bands will also be conducted to provide an account of how it is possible to tour while dealing strictly with the D.I.Y. subculture. The subjects selected for this research are dependent on my own experience within the punk subculture which may affect the results of this study. Although many different groups are represented within the subculture, this study will focus on individuals who have made D.I.Y. punk a life choice rather than people who do not necessarily support the D.I.Y. aspect of this subculture.