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17th out of 27 books
—
21 voters
The Philosophy of Punk
by
Craig O'Hara
Contents
Introduction by Marc Bayard
Preface by the author
Why Punk: Background comparisons with previous art movements; some defining characteristics of punk.
Media Misrepresentations: How television, glossy magazines, and mindless mass media have done their best to defang the beast.
Skinheads: Who they are, where they're from and do they have to do with punk anyway.
Intra-Move...more
Introduction by Marc Bayard
Preface by the author
Why Punk: Background comparisons with previous art movements; some defining characteristics of punk.
Media Misrepresentations: How television, glossy magazines, and mindless mass media have done their best to defang the beast.
Skinheads: Who they are, where they're from and do they have to do with punk anyway.
Intra-Move...more
Paperback, 172 pages
Published
July 1st 2001
by AK Press
(first published 1995)
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Disclaimer: This review is only examining one chapter of the book regarding skinheads.
Until I read that it was a self-published title reprinted by a leftist publisher, I was struggling to understand how it got published with such shoddy references and research. Anyone who grew up in the punk scene in the 1980s understood the political leanings of some of the larger fanzines and the bias towards skinheads (especially MRR). The reliance on fanzines and the opinions of the author does not create a...more
Until I read that it was a self-published title reprinted by a leftist publisher, I was struggling to understand how it got published with such shoddy references and research. Anyone who grew up in the punk scene in the 1980s understood the political leanings of some of the larger fanzines and the bias towards skinheads (especially MRR). The reliance on fanzines and the opinions of the author does not create a...more
I suppose I 'found' punk when I was 14 or so, mostly through bands like NOFX and Ant-Flag. I grew up in a political household, and found the political aspect of punk appealing (though the fast and often jarring melodies were also appealing). As such, I search for books that would give me more information on the subject and, being 14, didn't really know how to look beyond some larger websites, as my friends were getting into it just like me. This is a book I had found online and ordered shortly...more
In The Philosophy of Punk, Craig O'Hara draws from numerous punk bands and writings by punks to outline a general philosophy of punk aesthetic, ethics, and activism. He is clear to articulate that he is discussing a certain "brand" (my word) of punk rock: not generic, more consumption-oriented punk, but rather the more "authentic" punk of the late 70s and early 80s. This punk, he argues, was importantly about "tak[ing:] on responsibility" (39). While punk music involves rage, anti-authority view...more
I founded myself eating this book up over a decade ago. Sitting in my college dorm with a Mohawk, spiked leather jacket, and plaid bondage pants... At the time this was my early 20s manifesto, but looking back wasn't I just another product of consumerism?
The book at the time was already date focusing on the 77-87 times. The American punk and hardcore revival of the 90s that I grew up in was so different from the squatter days of Suburbia. I wish it had more on the current styles including strai...more
The book at the time was already date focusing on the 77-87 times. The American punk and hardcore revival of the 90s that I grew up in was so different from the squatter days of Suburbia. I wish it had more on the current styles including strai...more
Punk rock is more than a music style. It's a subculture, community, fashion, and philosophy. I've always felt a kindred spirit with punks, but never actually knew much about them. They seemed to stand for the same things I believed in, albeit noticeably more radical. So it was good to read a book that spelled it all out.
Insofar as punk rock, a totally disorganized movement, can be considered to have a philosophy, this book describes its elements: anarchism, radical feminism, eco-terrorism, anima...more
Insofar as punk rock, a totally disorganized movement, can be considered to have a philosophy, this book describes its elements: anarchism, radical feminism, eco-terrorism, anima...more
Apr 09, 2008
Dylan
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
people interested in punk who don't mind mediocre writing
Shelves:
books-i-own
This book could have been much better. The author, who was in the punk rock scene in D.C. since the eighties, certainly brought a good deal of first-hand knowledge to the subject, but his writing skills are poorly developed. The book was originally published as photocopied pages that were staple bound, and it was eventually published by AK Press, a major radical publisher. The writing is not really publishable, in my opinion, however.
Of course, in keeping with the punk rock tradition, the book d...more
Of course, in keeping with the punk rock tradition, the book d...more
I "found punk" when I was about thirteen, or over twenty years ago. As a result, I've found myself reading a truckload of books on the subject, some fairly lame, some fairly insightful.
Craig O'Hara's The Philosophy Of Punk is one of the good ones. Covering all sorts of punk related topics from activism to racism to the Do It Yourself method of life, O'Hara does a fine job of examining where punk's been and where it's at now. Where it's going is anybody's guess. His task, to qualify and quantify...more
Craig O'Hara's The Philosophy Of Punk is one of the good ones. Covering all sorts of punk related topics from activism to racism to the Do It Yourself method of life, O'Hara does a fine job of examining where punk's been and where it's at now. Where it's going is anybody's guess. His task, to qualify and quantify...more
I feel somewhat bad ripping on this, because it is an interesting topic, and it was initially a photocopied, self-published labor of love, not a professionally edited and produced book. But the writing was just painfully bad throughout. The author also makes a lot of tendentious statements about how "no real punk believes x" that irked. Again, maybe I'm applying overly academic/professionalized standards to a work that wasn't intended as such. But overall it was just an irritating read.
read for a paper I'm writing. my assignment is to "enter a critical conversation" with a secondary source, and this book definitely works for that. it's a good read, but it seems to make a lot of gaps and assumptions, and never discusses the importance of the music. still really interesting for someone with a limited knowledge of the scene.
The punk era was an era of self-reliance and defiance against the status quo. This book would be a great book to teach about American and British history and art as well as a guide for students to think about their choices. Students could learn to differentiate between the public perception and the intended cause of the punk era. This book goes through the history of punk and its origins. It looks at the different types of punks and each groups viewpoints. This book would be targeted to students...more
It was better than I thought it would be. Had a fair amount of interesting historic information and did an alright job of not being terribly biased most of the time. The chapter on anarchy was disappointing but the rest was fine. Nothing especially profound or inspiring about it though.
Doesn't have the technical chops to come off as a formidable book of theory, but it does articulate, intelligently and legibly, a whole range of ideas and impulses that are behind the punk scene and subculture.
Less proselytizing and more punk please. This book might be more useful to an outsider of politically-oriented diy/punk/(whatever social milieu you want to apply) but I felt like I was reading a primer.
Great intro to the punk scene and delivers what the title says: a philosophy of punk. Thanks, Craig.
This is a pretty good overview of punk rock.
Apparently, they taught a course from this book at Stanford for a few semesters. It gives you a history as well as some of the psychology behind modern punk. I read it in a few sittings and loaned it out since then several times as well.
runs all the way from the start 1967 to the summer of '77 to glam to hardcore to modern pop punk, crust and anarcho punk to emo and indie touching on all sub-cultures in between.
It won't help you understand your rebelli...more
Apparently, they taught a course from this book at Stanford for a few semesters. It gives you a history as well as some of the psychology behind modern punk. I read it in a few sittings and loaned it out since then several times as well.
runs all the way from the start 1967 to the summer of '77 to glam to hardcore to modern pop punk, crust and anarcho punk to emo and indie touching on all sub-cultures in between.
It won't help you understand your rebelli...more
Nov 03, 2009
Dwight
is currently reading it
great photos, excellent insight from a veteran of the scene.
awesome!!!..it's a punk guide to D.I.Y. culture...
PND.
I'm reading this to help one of my students who is writing a paper on it. It's intersting, but I've been over "punk" since I was 22.
Does exactly what it sets out to do; examining in detail some of the punk subcultures, such as, anarcho-punk, queer-core, straight-edge etc.. Gives you an exhaustive list of bands for you to wet your appetite and gives the Oi! and straight-edge scene a much needed critique.
I bought this from a table at an Ill Scarlett show benefiting World Vision. Overall, it was a very interesting look at the history of punk, as well as its place both in the larger culture, as well as in history. While there are some parts of what O'Hara discusses that I disagree with (anarchism, for example), it's an undoubtedly important part of punk history and culture.
This reads more like a quick history of punk than digging through the philosophical and social underpinnings of punk and the associated music. Nevertheless, it was an informative read and it did offer some insights into the movement(s) in the sixties and seventies up to the advent of hardcore.
Mmm... hardcore.
Mmm... hardcore.
It helps define punk, not as it is defined today (thank god). Fo rthose who are truly interested in understanding what it is and not wanting to take what they see in popular media as the truth. A very good quick informative read.
One person's opinion of what punk is. It's pretty dogmatic, but then again so is the punk scene since around the time the Dead Kennedys and Crass shuffled off to Buffalo. Doesn't embrace alternate views of punk rock.
Sep 15, 2008
Ryan Mishap
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Shelves:
music,
environment,
feminism,
glbt,
race-anti-racist,
political-category,
philosophy,
punk,
anarchy
Perhaps too short a book for the topic and "Of Political Punk" might be more accurate. It is a good introduction to political punk, if a little rosy glasses and all that.
Duh sbenernya sudah cukup lama sekali baca buku ini, potocopian pula hehehehehe...
It's always fun to see n' know something 'different' and it really happen...
It's always fun to see n' know something 'different' and it really happen...
If your punk, were, or are just curious, this is good reads - i do recommend.
Surprisingly very dry, in spite of the interesting subject matter.
Good resource for someone who doesn't understand the punk lifestyle.
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“Anarchy does not simply mean no laws, it means no need for laws. Anarchy requires individuals to behave responsibly. When individuals can live in peace without authorities to compel or punish them, when people have enough courage and sense to speak honestly and equally with each other, then and only then, will anarchy be possible.”
—
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