Punk Fashion

Punk fashion is just that--fashion. I think characterizing the apparel of the "punk" movement is relatively easy to do. Usually "punks" rebel by wearing tattered clothing, sporting tall and/or colorful mohawks, adorning themselves with chains, hoops, dog collars and the like. However, they're purpose still remains somewhat unclear to me. If it means so much to them to form their own "subculture" based on rebellion, anti-authoritarianism, and anti-consumerism, why care so much to stand out the way they do? The very tactics they use to "stand apart" are giving right back into the consumer movement. The idea that they "don't care" and are "so grungy" are incongruous with all the time it takes to look as weird as they do, spike their hair, buy and adorn themselves with jewelery and act "different" and "failed."

Call me old fashioned or naive, but I also feel like their tattered and torn image negatively affects their ethos. Their image is, to say the least, expands on their values: punks value things like "anti- authority, not giving a f%*k, and anti-conformity." However, if these are things they believe in, why should anyone pay attention to them anyway? To make myself more clear--and excuse the foul language-- if they don't give a f%*k, why should we give a f%*k?

I think their "movement" lacks substance. I think it is ineffective, as the ways of the world will always be based on structure, commerce, and order. I think too that "new" punks pride themselves in being different and/or rebellious during their teen years as a result of hardening relationships with their parents and virtually lack the understanding of what the punk movement stood for back in the 70's. There is no link back to that era, as these new kids have taken on their own "emo meaning" to the word. I also believe it can be categorized as a phase. How many 35-60 year old "punks" or "goths" do we usually see?

Altogether, the so-called punk movement has changed from what it originally stood for-- challenging societal norms of gender and sexuality-- into simply fashion. It calls one to wonder if the "punks" out there today really believe in the deeper issues behind their dress, or are simply going for a look which has become all too much accepted by our society.