I've been wondering something for the last year or so? Punk, is it a fashion statement, a state of mine or a phase that someone goes through?
A few weeks ago, I was in downtown Portland waiting on the train, when a group of "modern day punks" walked up. Now clearly, they were trying to shock and or offend by their language/posturing and hand gestures. Me, I had to seriously control the laughter. I guess my attempt at controlling my snickering wasn't a success because one of them asked me "what I was laughing at". Another one said, that "laughing at freedom of expression was just wrong".
I guess in my jeans, tshirt, mundane hair cut and color, I looked like the proverbial mom from the suburbs to them. I turned around and told them that I had been spray painting London, wearing ripped jeans and paint spattered MC's before they were a gleam in their father's eye. I was the one that cut the way for them to dress and act as they were and for their freedom of expression. That got me a weird look. I then pointed out that I was sneaking into Slayer concerts before they were even thought of...that of all things, got me respect. I was then totally cool!
I guess Punk is for me a state of mind. I may dress to the norms and I may act and talk to the norms, but inside, I'm still running around with green spray paint, painting up the town. I have had to fact facts that there is nothing worse than a 40 year old woman trying to dress like a 20 year old. I actually still have the spiked collar my boyfriend gave me back in 1985 and my old doc martin's from way back when. Ah, the good old days of the mosh pits, the punk concerts, the parties in Hell's park. Sigh.... Even now, the skull and cross bones has become a fasionista thing, is nothing sacred anymore?
And for present day and future punks...when doing the graffiti thing...make sure you change your clothes and ditch them before the cops get ahold of you!
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6 comments:
I was just thinking the other day about Punk as a State of Mind. Someone once told me that Knitting was the most un-punk thing in the world, and that the way I dressed wasn't punk either. Somehow I think that maybe they have the wrong Idea of what Punk Really is. It's a state of mind, and not a fashion statement or a "fashionista" thing.
Yay, tell those kids how it is! I look like a normal person, but won't hesitate to tell someone how it is. Love the look on people when I do. Such a thrill.
your story kinda reminded me of SLC punk.
I tell people dont judge the exterior as I am classic metal trying to live in a 30 yr old shell. I can song alot of songs they dont even know all the words for. You have to dress to your environment one person told me at work.
This dude at work thought I was Ms Conservative Chick when he first started here. It was about three weeks later that he found out that I have made many sailors and marines blush and am quite liberal in my thoughts and beliefs. Just because I found it easier to be taken serious in my fights for freedom and the environment when wearing "normal" clothing does not mean that I was not the chick who did all the dudes eye liner and stuff in school. Come to think of it, I really have never been one to follow the fashion norm. I have always dressed sort of hippie. This was extremely against the norm in the 80s. LOL
Pixi
think about it like this! Its the best time to shop when things become a trend, like the whole lepord thingy, I mean stalk up and but it away for like 6-1 yr when its not cool anylonger and then sport it like the diva that you are! hahah Kids are something, but know this that they will never forget you mama!
Hah! Great post. I was just visiting Portland a couple weeks back and I think I saw the exact same thing. I'm like you and don't advertise my roots. I wear normal clothes (comfort is my goal here), but I've been in love with punk music since I was a 12 year old (mainly 3rd wave punk, but I'll make an exception for The Descendents!) and the last 5 years or so I've been a real metal head. Grindcore, death metal, Norwegian Black Metal, thrash, you name it, I love it. I enjoy going to metal shows and sticking out like a sore thumb in a sea of greasy metalheads. I've got the heart, just not the look and it throws people off.
On a side note, I think this is the first knitting blog that I can find the words "Voodoo Glow Skulls" together. Wow. I bow down to you. Love them.
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