Context of Practice - Punk Content

Originally I wanted to just use text from the books I rented but I realised the extracts were far too long and complicated for what I wanted to communicate. So I from reading online articles and extracts from the book. I have tried to sum up the messages in a shorter more understandable way. I planned out the sections in my zine first of all then got to work sorting the content. I wanted to include quotes but this is something I am still yet to do. 


Content List

• Introduction
• Introducing Semiotics
• Diagram
• History / Origin of Punk
• Swastika
• Ripped Clothing
• Toilet Chain Necklaces
• Safety Pins
• Dog Collars
• Bin Bag Clothing
• The death of punk - Incorporation
• Influence on Punk Art

Working Out What to Say

Introduction // Semiotics Draft

THE FOLLOWING BOOK LOOKS AT THE PUNK STYLE WITH A SEMIOTIC APPROACH. I WILL BE LOOKING AT HOW PUNK FASHION SPEAKS THROUGH ITS CLOTHES AND THE IDEOLOGY BEHIND IT.

THE PUNK REVOLUTION HAS TO BE ONE OF THE MOST SHOCKING YOUTH MOVEMENTS THE WORLD HA S EVER SEEN. THE BRITISH PUNKS WERE REBELING AGAINST THE MUSIC OF THE 70’S, THE FASHION, AND THE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL CLIMATE OF ENGLAND AT THE TIME.

PUNK FASHION WAS A WAY OF VISUALLY COMMUNICATING THE VIEWS AND BELIEFS OF THE SUBCULTURE, THEY MUTILATED THEM SELVES WITH SAFETY PINS AND TORE THEIR CLOTHES  IN AN ATEMPT TO CONVEY A MESSAGE AND IDENTITY.

THIS INTENTIONAL FASHION LANGUAGE CAN BE ANALYSED USING SEMIOTICS ( THE STUDY OF SIGNS ) IN TERMS OF FASHION, THIS IS WHEN AN OBJECT OR THING HAS A CULTURAL VALUE DIFFERENT TO ITS ORIGONAL CONNOTATION.  FOR INSTANCE THE SAFETY PIN WAS TAKEN FROM ITS ORIGINAL CONTEXT, WHICH ONCE SIGNIFIED NAPPIES AND PARENTHOOD. AND WAS GIVEN A WHOLE NEW MEANING SIGNIFYING ANARCHY AND REBELION AMONGST THE PUNK SUBCULUTURE.

THE PUNK STYLE CAN BE READ AS A VISUAL CODE EXPRESSING ANARCHY, REBELLION, POVERTY AND  OTHER BELIEFS. A CODE IS A SET OF SHARED RULES THAT CONNECTS SIGNIFIERS WITH SIGNIFIEDS.

Punk History Draft

Britain was suffering from a recession at the time, and in times of extreme hardship, people look for an outlet for their anger. Adolescents became angry and showed their frustration and dissatisfaction of situations or conditions. In 1975, the poor working class youths of Britain began to use the style of the New York punk scene. Adolescents were angry because they seemed domed to living out an existence on the dole. This, coupled with normal adolescent feelings of isolation and estrangement gave rise to the punk movement. Punk music became a strong way in which the youth could vent their feelings and identify themselves as a counter culture. Their dress also became a means of identification. “Punk as a subculture was beginning to take shape, conformity was what punk stood against”