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Punk Rockers

Punk Rockers URING ADOLESCENCE, INDIVIDUALS are expected to conform to conflicting expectations of parents and the socializing institutions of society at large (Clark, et al. 1976:15). One of the possible results of this conflict of expectations is the development of spectacular subcultures which seek to create meaningful alternatives to the demands of the dominant culture (Willis 1978:5). I have used an ethnosemantic approach to investigate the ways punk rockers define their own identity and their cultural environment. The goal of this research was to identify the basic logic that members of this subculture use in ordering their reality and to provide a basis for further study of this subculture. The data presented in this report were collected through participant-observation, informal interviews, and the analysis of independently produced fan magazines—fanzines— during summer 1985 and winter 1986. My informants were primarily members of nonprofit organizations which promote punk and new wave concerts in western Michigan. Contacts with punk rockers from other parts of the United States lead me to believe that the conclusions based on my Michigan data are generally applicable. There are significant variations in the regional manifestation of this subculture, but the basic cognitive patterns find general acceptance. Study of http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png City & Society Wiley

Punk Rockers

Pomeroy, Robert P.
City & Society , Volume 1 (1) – Jun 1, 1987
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10 pages

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Publisher
Wiley
Copyright
Copyright © 1987 Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company
ISSN
0893-0465
eISSN
1548-744X
DOI
10.1525/city.1987.1.1.80
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

URING ADOLESCENCE, INDIVIDUALS are expected to conform to conflicting expectations of parents and the socializing institutions of society at large (Clark, et al. 1976:15). One of the possible results of this conflict of expectations is the development of spectacular subcultures which seek to create meaningful alternatives to the demands of the dominant culture (Willis 1978:5). I have used an ethnosemantic approach to investigate the ways punk rockers define their own identity and their cultural environment. The goal of this research was to identify the basic logic that members of this subculture use in ordering their reality and to provide a basis for further study of this subculture. The data presented in this report were collected through participant-observation, informal interviews, and the analysis of independently produced fan magazines—fanzines— during summer 1985 and winter 1986. My informants were primarily members of nonprofit organizations which promote punk and new wave concerts in western Michigan. Contacts with punk rockers from other parts of the United States lead me to believe that the conclusions based on my Michigan data are generally applicable. There are significant variations in the regional manifestation of this subculture, but the basic cognitive patterns find general acceptance. Study of

Journal

City & Society – Wiley

Published: Jun 1, 1987

References

  • Brave New World of the '80s
    Barnett, Barnett