I Wanna be Sedated: How Punk Influenced Culture

     Let’s run through the streets naked, and nobody will care. Interviewer: “Your quite famous aren’t u?” Johnny: “I suppose so” Interviewer: “how did all that happen” Johnny: “I dunno, through being honest” Interviewer: “are you honest”… “Why all the infamous language?” Johnny: “infamous language? Your joking, what language is that, I speak nothing but the F***ing English language”. People like Johnny Rotten, cultural black sheep and one of the most culturally defining punk rockers, he didn’t care what people thought and strived to shock and alarm people. Punk rock was completely shaped around this mentality and culture thus followed. The 80’s were completely shaped around how people didn’t care about what others thought, and that bad attitudes, bad hygiene, bad hairstyles and bad clothing were the norm. Multiple piercings, no respect, and drug use were also part of the 80s mentality. Many people died of heroine overdoses, and teens were seen in a different light. The “I don’t care” side of punk influenced culture has been tremendous as it started a real counter cultural reaction to popular music and fashion. Even though it exists today, it was more apparent in the 80s. Things like bad fashion for example, tough looking, black, leather, obscene and risqué. Woman’s clothes were usually sexual, they were dominatrix like and were usually exposing, leathery and what they strived for… shocking. Men’s clothes were tough, metal studded, chained, and both men and women wore tight/skinny, ripped jeans or leather pants. Even now the “skinny” jeans trend still remains. But the biggest fashion influence was the Mohawk. I think this influenced culture positively because it taught society to not care about people who were different, as in how people dress, and what they do (an interesting contrast between the violent side and how it influenced culture and the shock factor). From leather jackets, to skinny jeans, but the hair, the Mohawk, a cultural slap in the middle aged face in 1979. By 2009, one can see 9 year olds getting a version of a Mohawk at First Choice Haircutters.

     In Conclusion, I personally believe that punk rock although it had some negative areas, has influenced culture musically and in fashion. Perhaps punk rock’s rebellious nature has influenced culture today to become more free spirited. Punk rock has shown how racism and violence can be taken to an extreme very quickly and get out of hand. It also taught culture to be more accepting of people who act and look different, even if it completely shocks you and makes you feel uncomfortable or out of place. Punk rock may be one of the greatest cultural influences as a genre of music, punk pretty much rewrote the rules to music, and it remains ever changing. Beat on the brat baby, Punk Rock Forever!

                                                                Thank You, Austin Tokrud