"The Punks are Alright" opened my eyes to the impact punk music has on society. I have come to realize its purpose serves much deeper than just a music genre, because it has become an escape for many third-world country citizens, mostly the youth culture, suffering from the realities of capitalism.
It amazes me how punk music was able to connect three different people from three different parts of the world. Punk music is extremely confrontational, and spreads immediate awareness to the causes the listeners are rebelling against (oppression, drugs, poverty, violence and so on). Unfortunately, while punk music may be listened to, it does not necessarily mean it is being heard.
The Punk/DIY community is outspoken about expression and social, economic and political turmoil. It was incredible to learn of the youth's perceptions of their lives in retrospect to the world around them. Their awareness of these injustices caught me off guard. I find it depressing how many people in third world countries have their innocence taken away at such a young age, but these people are wise for being able to make such insightful speculations about the realities of the world.
I was surprised to learn of how positive of an influence Punk music has on the world. In Canada, Mickey played for 1 million fans, 100 at a time. This dedication shows Mickey and his fans' true commitment to punk music. If punk music is the sign, its object is confrontation and rebellion. Punk music makes people feel like they are more than utterly powerless. It is a form of expression. In Brazil, Henrike, a punk rocker, helped form a school to keep the youth focused on education, as opposed to focused on life in the streets. The reasoning is that if the youth culture is focused more on Punk music, there will be less of a desire to sell drugs or commit other crimes on the streets and risk jail/death. It is crucial to keep children occupied with positive activities so they do not cave into the dangerous social pressures of the impoverished area. In Indonesia, punk music serves a similar purpose of getting people through each individual day. Dolly takes an extensive commute to work long, discomforting hours at a Nike Factory, where he earns $2.66 a day. Punk music has been an escape for youths surrounded by bad influences.
Living in a first world country makes my lifestyle differ from the movie's artists who live in third world countries across the world. As mentioned in the movie, you are not fully capable of understanding the lifestyle of a third world religious country until you have lived it. One thing Dolly emphasizes is that "punk is the remedy for [his] sickness." I feel like I can connect with him/other punk music listeners on a level of viewing music as an escape. When I become overly stressed from a situation, I put my headphones in and tune out the world. The music comforts me and reminds me that I can get through the curves life throws at me with faith that it will get better.
I can also connect to the punk artists on a (much smaller) rebellious scale. While I may not protest oppression, poverty, drug use, violence, sexual assault, racism, etc. through the music I listen to, I still have found myself protesting my "problems" of a curfew, homework, and chores around the house. This movie really put my life in perspective and much more grateful for the leisure life I lead.
When I look around at all the materialistic goods I have, I realize yet another connection I have with the punk artists. Dolly works at a Factory for next to no money, while my parents drop nearly $100 every time I get a new pair of Nike sneakers. America's demands for these high quality products only increases the labor demands of the factory workers. The competition among these companies gives them incentive to lower their prices, in addition to having no minimum wage or labor laws enforced in Indonesia. I am supporting this corrupt economic system every time I purchase goods that were produced in factories similar to the one Dolly works at. America should think more about how we influence the rest of the world. While we may employ people with the demands for material goods, the working conditions in factories is disappointing and demeaning. This made me realize I am more focused on self-interests than many public-interests, and I should probably re-evaluate many of my purchases and the causes I unintentionally support. By stopping these purchases altogether, Indonesia and places economically/socially/politically similar would face serious unemployment issues, but it is possible they could rebuild their economy with new and more just laws. It is important that the world becomes more aware of the consequences of their actions.
"The Punks are Alright" gave me a newfound appreciation for punk music and all that it stands for. While it comes off as aggressive and overwhelming to me, I have found the social/political/economic issues confronted through punk music to be a brave and admirable way to spread awareness for their beliefs. This film also made me appreciate my lifestyle and remind myself that my problems are much more insignificant. I need to start being more aware of how my actions influence those around me and inclined to consider public-interest as opposed to self-interests.
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