r/Punk_Heads

Let me explain. I do post on TikTok about being punk (as accurately as I can WITHOUT being seen as a ‘TikTok punk’) and recently I got into a small argument about how you need music to be punk. So, let me unpack my ideology on this. —
For me, without the music you’re just an extreme leftist. So, for example, let’s say someone fights against injustice but they hate everything to do with punk. By all means they have the mindset of a punk but they hate what punk is and hate the music. Are they still punk because they fight for rights but hate everything punk is?
For me, to make the difference, I say a punk is someone who has the ideology AND enjoys punk music. So, only ideology= ‘leftist’ (in simple terms) ideology + music = punk
If you disagree I’d love to know why!
In summery, someone who only has the ideology of a punk = just an activist/leftist in my mind. Someone who has the ideology AND likes punk music is punk. Since we know not every leftist is a punk, the only way I know to draw a difference is music and interest in the subculture. If you disagree, why? What can you draw the difference from? — essentially, Can someone who hates punk as a whole but has the ideology of one still be punk?

I'm writing a paper in which I will examine how punk has become commodified and transformed into an easily consumable aesthetic category. My focus will be on how cultural ideas surrounding rebellion against the mainstream are made into packaged products that consumers use to perform identity.

If you associate yourself with punk, in any way, and would like to participate, answer the questions below :) All participants will be kept anonymous in my final paper.

• Do you identify yourself as being punk?
• What do you associate with punk?
• When, where, and how were you first exposed to punk?
• What did you initially observe in terms of the punk clothing style?
• Have you seen the fashion change or stay the same?
• Where do you most often see punk fashion today?
• What are your thoughts on more recent generations identifying with punk and its fashion?
• What are your thoughts on punk being called an aesthetic?