Punk originated in the late 1970s as a youth movement characterized by anti-establishment ideals and DIY ethos. It was defined by loud, aggressive punk rock music and distinctive fashion styles like mohawks and torn jeans. Adherents engaged in dancing like moshing and stagediving at concerts. Though the meaning has changed over time, punk initially represented a working class reaction against social and economic instability through shock value and nihilism.

1. Pu
nk

2. punk (pngk)
definition n.
a. a youth movement of the late
1970s, characterized by anti-
Establishment slogans and
outrageous clothes and hairstyles
histor b. an adherent of punk
c. short for punk rock
-thefreedictionary.com
y• First originated in the mid-1970’s around United Kingdom and
United States.
• The first punks are thought to have originated from another
subculture who call themselves as “Skinheads.”

3. Ideolo
gy,
lifestyle
• Shock value + Anti-establishment ideals = Punk
• DIY (Do-It-Yourself) Ethos, Nihilism, and Anti-consumerism
• Anarchism
• Straight edge

4. Music
• characterized by loud, aggressive
genre of music called punk rock
• punk musicians usually stay
underground
• notable punk artists:
Minor Threat, Ramones, Sex
Pistols, and NOFX
Fashion
• notable styles:
mohawk, customized
blazers/jackets, excessive
piercings, tattoos
, studded jewelries, jeans
(usually torn or bleached)

5. Art and Literature
• punk zines
• poetry
• comic books
• punk visual arts
Dance
• moshing
• pogo dancing
• stage diving
• hardcore dancing
• skanking
• crowd surfing

6. Evoluti
on
progressi
on
• Today’s punk has a different connotation – devoid of any real
political or even social meaning.
• Original punk – has working class parents; lives in an era where
social and economic statuses are always changing
• Punk of today – lives in the suburbs having parents with stable
jobs

7. source
A Detailed Journey into the Punk Subculture:
Punk Outreach in Public Libraries (http://ils.unc.edu/MSpapers/2483.pdf)