The Last of the Crass: Understanding the Shifting Values of Punk Subculture
In 1970, Ed Sanders of The Fugs coined the term “Punk Rock” (Shapiro 492). From this
moment onward, Punk developed into one of the most iconic and influential subcultural
movements of the 20th century. It spawned a newfound political activism from youths and
encouraged postmodern thought that challenged traditional values and it did so in an
aggressive fashion never before seen. Eight years later, the band Crass released their song
“Punk is Dead” effectively killing the scene while still in its adolescence (Crass). So, why is it
that a culture such as Punk with such a significant following can dissolve so rapidly? The
answer can be found within the philosophical shift of perception from youth subcultures. It is
debatable the exact point at which Punk dissolved, but one can observe a clear change in the
idealism of the 1970s subcultures and the mindset of the modem citizens of the post-2000 era
(Burstein 3). In the 70s, “Punk gave the individual a route to personal liberation. Punk meant
something more” (Berger 5). In 2000, “there is no Punk; just kids in black shirts” (Cabemach).
What was once liberation became a fashion. Punk as a subculture dissolved because of
society’s inclination towards pragmatism. It became simply entertainment rather than a
movement.
“You Can Be Who?”: Defining Punk
‘Punk’ is a word that has always been notoriously difficult to define (Abebe). ’Punk’
gained its subcultural connotation when musicians usurped the word to mock police dramas
like Kojak and Baretta that used ‘Punk’ as an insult for the antagonists in the shows (LeBlanc
35). Youths started using the word ‘Punk’ to describe those who rejected authority and
engaged in deviant behavior for the sake of promoting individual expression. ‘Punk’ therefore
came to be defined as a militant expression of postmodern thought characterized by
independence, alienation, and exaggeration (Eriksen).
Punk was created to be in direct opposition to not one clear issue, but rather in
opposition to the overall authoritarian mentality of western culture (Eriksen). Everyone’s
opinions were to be valued in Punk culture as long as the idea was not the product of sole
conformity and obedience. It was the duty of humankind to question reality and express doubt
in its institutions. This Punk idealism sought to create a world in which members of a dominant
culture would be encouraged to use individual moral reasoning for its beliefs. Therefore, Punk
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