Commercialization of Punk
Hey guys!
I'm Siya and I'm from India.
I have to write a research paper for one of my college classes this semester and as someone who has always been fascinated with punk as a movement, I thought I could maybe write something in it. I would greatly appreciate some insights on the following topics:
My first question is do you guys think a person has to really be against capitalism and consumerism, as these are some core concepts of punk as an ideology, or can anyone who simply enjoys the music/dresses the part be considered punk?
Secondly, punk originally had a lot of DIY sentimentality around it but now that fashion brands themselves sell clothes that are "punk", aren't we further falling into the category of capitalists and consumerists that punk was against?
Thirdly, while there is no doubt that Vivienne Westwood greatly shaped and popularized punk fashion. Isn't a designer whose end goal ultimately is making a shit ton of money and is mass-producing clothes and accessories, kind of against the whole DIY and political ideologies of punk?
Edit: This came to mind after posting so adding it here -
Fourthly, Do you think the one perk of commercialization of punk culture can be that it introduces new audiences to it? People who were drawn in from the music and the fashion but would end up sticking around for the political ideologies. (I am an example of this.)
Please feel free to reply to whichever question you guys are comfortable answering and any other information that you would like to share!
A little background information about me, if you guys would like to know :) -
I'm 24 and I got into bands like my chemical romance, panic! at the disco, green day, sum 41, blink-182, etc when I was 14. I discovered all of them through the internet. (I'm aware these bands are more 'pop punk' but moving on..) Growing up, I didn't really know anyone who was into this kind of music. Still only know maybe like a couple people in real life haha but I do see a lot of people online so that's nice. Through the music and a lot of time on the internet, I also discovered punk fashion as a kid which again is something I was very fascinated by. However, it is only in the recent few years I actually read more about the movement and its anti-capitalist and anti-consumerism ethos.
Thank you so much!