The 1970’s in Britain was a decade of instability marked by rising economic, political and social tensions. The Labour Party was not able to keep the promises made in the post war period, the economy of the UK was declining, racial tensions were immense, and riots continued to break out. Of course when there is tension and instability, there comes some form of radical opposition and alas the British punk movement was born. The punk movement was a way for youth to express their anger towards the system that had been failing them. Having little economic opportunity, the British youth took on a mentality that created a subculture of rage and aggression that was expressed through ripped and tattered clothing and bad behavior. With punk as the voice of the angry youth, the Sex Pistols emerged as a figure head to represent them. Using a basic rock style, the Sex Pistols added their aggression to it creating music that not even the Queen herself was safe from. This movement rejected previous mainstream rock claiming that The Stones and The Beatles are over, and the Sex Pistols created a new genre of rock with an added sense of danger. For a period of time, everything the Sex Pistols made was followed by controversy and negative headlines. Although, the bad publicity only enhanced their notoriety which allowed them to become bigger and later becoming icons of this era.
1.) What do you make of Julien Temple’s use of Shakespeare clips throughout the Documentary?
2.) The Grundy Show Incident (41:00 in the Documentary): why was it so controversial?
3.) How did this incident affect the Sex Pistols as well as the Punk Rock Movement? Did this incident hurt the Sex Pistols or Bill Grundy more?
4.) Regarding “God Save the Queen”, many people saw this song as an attack on the Queen and the Monarchy especially because it was released immediately after her Silver Jubilee or the marking of her 25 year reign, but song writer Johnny Rotten has been quoted “You don’t write ‘God Save the Queen’ because you hate the English race. You write a song like that because you love them, and you’re fed up with them being mistreated.”
5.)Why do you think the Sex Pistols would focus their attention on the monarchy rather than the government who was actually in charge?
6.) Although the use of the swastika was not used with the same meaning as Nazis, what do you think of punk rockers using this symbol?
7.) What is your interpretation of The Clash’s White Riot… is it really politically ambiguous?
8.) Punk didn’t necessarily endorse anarchy, but they often reference it in order to create a shock factor as well as to take a hit at authority figures. How effective was this tactic?
9.) Why was RAR so successful and why was punk considered the heart of it?
10.) Although Punk is often labeled as corruptive especially to youth, what are some of the positive influences it can have on society?
Personally seconds after seeing them wear the swastika I was offended as to why they would support it. I didn’t understand why they thought it was ok as I kept watching the documentary it made more sense. I feel like they wore it because they didn’t care about anything they though of everything as a joke. Personally the message I got from them was that they just don’t care. They did what they wanted when they wanted. So ya I was offended and disturbed seeing them wear the swastika but later on still having the same feeling, I understood why.
I think the punk scene at this time united politically and socially confused youth. The shock factor in the blatant display of the swastika on clothing and the names of groups obviously referencing Nazism didn’t age well in my opinion. Given the shocking popularity of the National Front, punk artists so obviously endorsing such symbols could’ve added to that fire. Also, it’s association with anarchism enhanced their confusion. I don’t mean confusion in a derogatory way – given the great civil unrest in the U.K. at this time, it may of seemed like to them that the very fabric of their society was being destroyed. The extremity of Nazism and anarchism conveyed the punk artist’s strong feelings, although not actually believing in what they were displaying.
The use of Shakespeare clips in the documentary helped, one, to point out the fact that Johnny Rotten modeled himself after Shakespeare’s Richard III because his demeanor and way of him was perfect for what he wanted to accomplish, and second, to realization that even figures from the great time period of Shakespeare is out there and upset. It is like a way of taking something that was always something that meant class and sophistication and twisting it and bringing it down to the angry youth.
Also to touch on the Grundy Show Incident, I think it was so controversial because people expected artists to go on Talk Shows and be professional or answer all the questions and have a level of respect for the interviewer. It was expected of them to behave, but when they were on the Grundy show, the Sex Pistols were drunk and acting like it to a very important figure head. They showed no respect for the show or the interviewer then when the interviewer seemed to get mad they they were like this and ‘fought back,’ the Sex Pistols started spouting off bad words and calling the interviewer names. They truly disregarded every aspect of normal culture and people were extremely upset by it.
1. I think the use of Shakespeare clips in the documentary is brilliant. I very much agree with Kailee that Richard III is being used as a stand in for various issues in Britain. What is interesting about Richard III is that he is simultaneously a monarch that commands respect (and usurpers power from the rightful people), but someone that is historically described as evil looking in the stage directions of Shakespeare. I think I have more say on this in class, but I am a big fan of this multimedia package.
10. The older I get, the more I am a fan of rebellion. The more I distrust institutions, and the more I think it is important to keep my leaders accountable. That is what I think punk is getting at. The whole Nazi association, that is for the birds, but I think the song “God Save the Queen,”is a great example of saying our leaders do not realize what they are doing to the people, and empty platitudes that they are giving to the crowd is not enough unless action is taken too.