Punk Music Essay, Research Paper

Punk is a term applied to a child or teenager who acts in an antisocial way. Punk

music is a form of rebellion, and it turned against all other musical forms and influences at

its time of creation. Punk music is as much cultural as it is musical.

Aggression does not have to be subconscious in nature. It can be on the surface of

our behavior and in constant use. Our inclination to aggression is apparent in one’s relationship with their

neighbors and apparent in what they see as every day, casual behavior. One manager of a club remembered

a situation dealing with two young women from a local punk band. “While one was talking to me, the

other went into the girls’ room and broke a bunch of beer bottles in the sink and ran her hands through the

glass. Then she came out to talk to me,

blood steaming down her arms.” Others reported situations where several girls would carve

X’s into their arms with broken glass in support for a local band. Self mutilation in a show

of aggressive behavior can come with positive outcomes and continues to reaffirm violence

and aggression.

Freud also believed aggression is another human instinct that brings us joy and happiness.

However, civilization refuses any acts of violence, it oppresses this need of aggression deep in our

consciousness. The first thing we do when no one is watching is anything civilization refuses to allow us to

do. Goldstein, in his article, describes the dance craze called the Slam. He believes it is, “an organized

gang of punk youths, leading to numerous incidents of violence at many area clubs.” On the contrary, a

member of an area band the Germs who would be considered a participant observer feels, “If they’re doing

that (Slam), then I

know they are having fun.” Freud’s opinion of releasing aggression, bringing about happiness and going

about it by defying civilization and cultural opinion, is the underlying reason for

the punk movement.

As seen through the classic examples of aggressive behavior in Goldstein’s article, Freud’s

argument comprises factually correct statements, for both his time and the punk movement. His arguments

conclusion is well supported and his premises meet the conditions

of a deductive argument with relevance and ground. This means that wherever we come

from, whatever our culture is, we are aggressive by nature. From that sense, civilization

steps in with a beneficial purpose, as it tames the human nature. However, civilization creates human

source of worry and distress, and oppresses our basic human instinct.