Punks

From MarxWiki

Punk- Punk was a powerful and short-lived subculture, socially relevant for about 18 months to two years in the late 70’s. The punk ethos was typified by a working class sensibility, rejection of oppressive British gender and identity norms, antipathy toward the British social hierarchy, do-it-yourself or DIY, and a general sense of nihilism. Punks embraced the distopian visions of post-war Britain, obsessed with developing commodification of democratic ideals and general corruption.

Punk style is designed to shock and offend the common sensibilities of the rest of society. Thus they incorporated a combination of common commodities and already powerful symbols into their style. The most notable of these stylistic reappropriations include the co-option of the image of the Queen of England, the Anarchy symbol, and the punk swastika.

One of the true signs of cultural and mainstream re-appropriation is what the word punk now signifies. When describing music, it can be a type of genre, but those who were involved in or listen to the original influences of those genres will tell you that what is considered punk is not at all. There is a connotation, also, associated with calling someone a punk, in that they are dirty, worthless, working class or lower members of society, and therefore have nothing positive or useful to contribute. This is yet another example of a mainstream creating a label where it doesn't belong, as none of these things play a role in the original ethos of the punk sub-culture.