Dissatisfaction as creative leaven
Even if the punk musical movement can be historically located between the years 1975 and 1978, according to Catherine Guesde, the initial gesture of punk continues to be reborn in different forms from the 1980s until today with for example hardcore punk. , more abrasive, like a return to basics.
“After the excessive media coverage of punk, hardcore punk returns to something harder, less accessible but with a certain ethic.” Catherine Guesde
More surprisingly, it is possible to link punk and spirituality. In the 90s in the United States, on the west coast, punks approached Hindu spirituality, embracing the same political, social, cultural, even existential dissatisfactions. This is how Krishna Kor was born, from the same ferment of dissatisfaction mixed with the desire to create counter-cultural music.
“The group “Against the stream” unites two paradoxical tendencies: the silent practice of meditation with an a priori violent expression that is punk.” Catherine Guesde
Dirt and independence, the two talismans of punk
If punk is often associated with dirt, at the level of the sound, at the level of the name of the groups or even the style of clothing, this appetite for disgust is much more symbolic than it seems. Indeed, it is not simply a characteristic relating to hygiene. Exposing dirt on the front of the stage is exposing everything that is invisible, either because it is not in its place, or because we do not wish to see it.
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“Punk is a movement of dissatisfaction of the excluded who speak out. It makes sense that dirt is one of its characteristics, since it’s something that shocks, that goes against good morals.” Catherine Guesde
Another punk mantra: “Do It yourself”
Another important characteristic of punk is the “Do it yourself” which is very much part of the regime of punk commitment, as the book points out. Do it yourself! by Fabrien Hein (Editions The clandestine passenger). Punk bands developing on the fringes of the music industry and not expecting any institutional validation, they claim both their technical mastery of playing guitar or singing, and their way of circulating music is their own.
Their independence from other musical genres therefore depends on their independence from the musical system in general. So many are the record companies and “in-house” punk labels such as Small Wonder Records where the Bauhaus and Crasses groups (to name but a few) have signed.
“There is also the fact of creating fanzines rather than waiting for validation from the official press and therefore really creating one’s own culture and also one’s networks for circulating and disseminating culture.” Catherine Guesde
– To read : The Most Beautiful Ugly Sound In the Wordby Catherine Guesde, published by FM2018
Do it yourself! Self-determination and punk culture by Fabien Hein, published by The stowaway2012
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