Are punk/goth/emo trends really just ready-made identities?

Question

Why or why not?
I believe that it is similar to joining a gang with the clothing and music uniform. Isn't this for people who haven't developed their own identity despite the rants of "I'm expressing myself and being an individual"? I'm trying to understand the logic and appeal of these fads primarily in adults. (thanks!)

Answer 1

I'm sure you're right, but does it really surprise you? Have you ever met anyone who didn't have a tribal identity of some sort or other? Would that even be normal?

Consider this: Humanity has only lived in civilized societies for a few thousand years. Within that timespan, there have only been societies of the modern Western sort, that provide legal protection for individual self-determination, for a few hundred years. Is that really long enough to change humanity's basic nature?

If you're tempted to flippantly answer "Sure!", well, consider this as well: For the few thousand years there has been civilization, much of humanity lived outside it's borders. And even within it's borders, most of the people were rural peasants who lived who in small tight-knit communities, that except for having to pay taxes, might as well have been tribal villages.

Furthermore, as far as the modern values of individual freedom go, these weren't even typical of most West European societies until after WW2, never mind non-Western cultures. In fact when the US ratified the Bill of Rights in 1791, it was the only country in the world with such laws and remained so for decades. It was only after long struggle that the idea of a legal right of self-determination was even accepted by the other Anglo countries.

Is it really surprising that when given the power to choose as an individual, the freedom people want most is the freedom to join a communal entity, in short a tribe, or at least a tribe-surrogate.....

Nimadan

Answer 2

I believe that it simply shows that they identify more with the ideals and characteristics of the group they've chosen. The only people, in my experience, who stay only in one subculture (listening to one type of music, making only goth/punk/emo/whatever friends, wearing only a certain type of clothing, ect.) tend to be overzealous teenagers. They feel as if they're less than ideal so they try to overcompensate by being ubergoth, punk, emo, et cetera. They'll either leave the scene or mellow out and try new things as they get older. (Sorry I can't be as eloquent as the guy above me.) Anyhow, my two cents.

Answer 3

Yeah, its all stupid