This document discusses the socio-historical impact of the hardcore music genre. It originated in the USA as some punk bands moved in a harder, faster direction. Hardcore music was loosely defined and included different styles and tempos. Like punk, hardcore bands used a DIY approach. The genre helped spawn the straight edge movement encouraging sobriety. Hardcore music was seen as edgy and associated with violence by outsiders, though some portrayals exaggerated this. The document reflects on using genre conventions and intertextuality to appeal to the target hardcore audience.

1. +
Socio-Historical Impact of
the Hardcore Genre
Elizabeth Wylie.

2. +
Hardcore music originated in the USA.
It was created as some groups reformed or changed directions
towards harder, faster, and more energetic punk music.
The genre was loosely defined and included many speeds,
tempos and styles.
Like 70’s style punk most hardcore bands used the do-it-yourself
(DIY) approach to recording and distribution.

3. +
Hardcore music created the originators of the strait edge
movement which encouraged listeners to avoid drugs, and live a
pure “straight” life.
Hardcore bands were influenced by the speed and energy of
hardcore punk bands, and played an fast and aggressive music.

4. +
Like the original punk movement, hardcore was associated by
most outsiders with drug abuse and violence because it was
unfamiliar and edgy.
Police began to regularly break up concerts and many violent
outbursts were a result of the police oppression of the movement.
Hardcore punk is synonymous with slam dancing and stage
diving and was made more prominent by several portrayals of it
in popular culture.
These sometimes unfair portrayals perpetuated the myth that all
hardcore punk fans were violent.

5. +
Reflection…
Having looked at these particular representations and the history
of my chosen genre, it has allowed me to make amendments to
my initial idea and focus on appealing to my generic target
audience in ways that I had not thought of at first.
I have shown my initial ideas to numerous people who fit into the
stereotype that Hardcore music presents and gathered ideas on
what I could do to adhere to the genre.

6. +
Reflection…
The representations surrounding drugs and outcasts – regardless
of their true nature – is something that has stood to be apparently
iconic when I’ve asked my audience members.
I have decided that I will be using this historical stereotype to
further reinforce the genre of my work, focusing on the
iconography that I can present through props, costume, lighting,
location and character presentation.

7. +
Reflection…
The representation of violence is something I have decided to
steer away from, however, because I don’t think that violent
visuals would be appropriate for the song.
However, though the song is an acoustic recording I have
decided that the message in the lyrics is strong enough to
warrant some decisions regarding the idea of mental illness,
abandonment and the concept of the “outsider.”

8. +
Intertextuality…
My music video is going to also adhere to the generic genre
masses through the use of intertextuality, and adopting some
ideas that I’ve taken from a film that achieved cult status within
the Hardcore genre.
I have decided to use the iconic signifier of rabbits, making
specific reference to Donnie Darko (2001) and Who Framed
Roger Rabbit? (1988).

9. +
Intertextuality…
Because these films achieved cult status, seeing reference to
them in my music video will make the themes and theorists that I
am going to be applying to my work.
Predominantly, through the use of intertextuality I will be
addressing the theorist Andrew Goodwin and his belief that all
media texts involve some form of intertextuality in order to appeal
to the intended audience.
The rabbit will also represent the merging the roles of the villain
and the hero, something commonly done in film and specifically
in the two I am taking influence from (Vladimir Propp).

10. +
Expectations…
The expectations of my audience will thus become much easier
to meet through the use of iconic signifiers and intertextuality, and
the music video I create will be recognisable as one in the
Hardcore genre.
Through making reference to the socio-historical impact that has
been had on the genre, it will ensure that what I use to represent
each character and setting will not veer from the genre’s
conventions.