ok so in class, I asked about what makes poser a poser. The books definition is someone who wears the trappings of a subculture but who others perceive to fail to live out or truly believe in the subculture's ideas. The book then outlines all of the accepted rules of punk including wearing a certain style of clothing, listening to certain bands, and dancing a certain way. What confuses me is that among these, is the idea of a "do it yourself" attitude. I don't understand how a subculture with "do it yourself" nonconformist ideals can also have a set of values and guidelines for what makes someone authentic. Can someone please explain how these ideas can possibly coincide? Out of curiosity, I searched "why is the band green day considered a punk poser?" and this was one of the first links: http://www.wikihow.com/Become-a-Punk-Rocker
If you don't feel like looking at it, it basically just describes the 9 steps to "becoming a punk rocker".
The rules listed here match, almost exactly, those listed in the book and addressed in class. HOW CAN YOU DIFFERENTIATE between those who picked up these values naturally and wholeheartedly and those who just googled it to fit "the scene". Please dont get me wrong, I get that there is a difference. I just dont get how members of the subculture can tell who is real and who is just posing.
I would imagine that someone who has been within the scene for multiple years could tell someone who was new right off the bat, similarly to veterans in sports or the armed forces. I suppose at face value, yes, there would be no real distinction between real members and poseurs, but without the guideline to become a poseur of sorts, how would punk or any other genre gain any new members if they had no initial guideline? They are technically still following the "do it yourself" mentality even by looking up standards and steps to "becoming a punk rocker", as one hypothetically would need to be let in by another member somehow, and using the internet is just a simpler route.
ReplyDeleteAs someone "in the scene," so to speak, it really doesn't matter who's been around the block a few times and who hasn't. When I was 12 and going to my first shows, I dressed to impress, no doubt about it. Anyone with a head on their shoulders could tell I was new to the scene, but like everyone, I had to start somewhere. It is this unconditional acceptance that allows punk (and all DIY scenes, for that matter) to survive and thrive. As I grew up I made friends at shows, figured my way around the inherent nuances that are found in any unfamiliar environment, and carved out my place. If I had been labeled as a poseur when I was first starting out, that's all I (or anyone) would ever be. Everyone has to start somewhere, and for every scumbag out there who's just there because it looks cool, there are 10 people who's lives depend on this, and it is because of that, punk will never die, poseurs or not.
ReplyDeleteI think that someone who is posing is someone who is merely wearing the trappings and listening to the music. No one is going to quiz you on what bands you listen to in a "scene." It really isn't about the aesthetics of your involvement. In my opinion, a poser isn't someone who wears the wrong thing, it is someone who doesn't understand the point. Everyone has to start somewhere, as Jake pointed out. By merely being somewhere, you "get" it more than most. An understanding of the values that a particular subculture holds is the value that truly determines who is posing. Just because you aren't going pro doesn't mean you can't fit into the skater subculture and just because you don't own a studded jacket doesn't mean you aren't punk. Being able to understand what your culture is about is what's important. A poser is someone who labels themselves as those things to merely be "different" from the mainstream, but doesn't actually support the same ideals that their community avidly promotes.
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