JOSHUA HETER is a contributing editor and author of philosophical works. Other writing credits include Westworld & Philosophy: Mind Equals Blown, and The Man in High Castle & Philosophy: Subversive Reports from another Reality, both from Open Court Publishing. Joshua is currently an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Jefferson College in Hillsboro, MO.

Table of Contents

Part I The Nature of Punk Rock

1. Can Punk Be Mature? Rebellion, Nihilism, and Liberation

Thomas Meagher

This chapter addresses whether it is possible for punk to be mature (given its nature). Essential to its doing so is a particular notion of nihilism.

2. The Essence of Punk

Timothy M. Kwiatek

Considers whether anything can satisfactorily answer the question: what is the essence of punk? Ultimately it rejects the question, and considers some worries about the very attempt (such as gatekeeping).

3. The Unlikely Traditionalism of Punk Rock (or Why Sting Is More Punk than You)

Brian Harding

Looks at (1) punk’s initial rejection of canonized artists (The Beatles, Elvis Presley) and (2) the fact that certain bands (The Ramones, The Clash, The Sex Pistols) have subsequently been canonized. the result is a somewhat scathing attack on the notion of punk cred and its related concepts (not-selling out, not being a poser, and all that crap).

4. The Spectacle of Society, The Society of Failure and the Authentication of Punk; Or, Elvis is Dead

Michael Stock

This chapter begins by considering the question of whether punk ultimately fails. It subsequently explores the intimate relationship between punk and failure.

5. Punk as Praxis

Nicholas H. Smith

Argues that punk is best characterized as a form of praxis. Different conceptions of praxis are considered and applied to punk.

Part II Punk Values

6. Post-Punk and the Struggle for Authenticity

Markus Kohl

Examines the forms of authenticity that were available in post-punk (after the late 1970s and early 1980s) culture. Inward vs. outward models of authenticity are considered. The former wins out.

7. The Paradox of the Poseur

Peter Brian Barry

This chapter considers what the author calls “the paradox of the poseur.” The paradox of the poseur can be motivated by asking some pretty simple questions. If punk is about individual expression and the rejection of conformity, how can the poseur be a fake? Can punks both reject conformity while complaining that poseurs fail to conform?

8. Doing Better—Hardcore Punk, Straight Edge and How to Live the Good Life

Molly Tie

Examines what punks have to say about living the good life. Takes a particularly close look at the admonitions of the Straight-Edge movement.

9. To Resist Despair: The Metaphysics of Punk

Bailie Peterson

This paper examines the metaphysics of punk, by attempting to identify the minimal set of necessary characteristics for something being punk. This is accomplished by focusing on punk virtues.

10. I Am a Poser and I Don’t Care

Jesse Prinz

Takes a look at a different paradox of the poser: everyone how comes to punk is in some sense unoriginal (with the exception of the very first punks), so everyone pretty much is a poser. This paradox is helpful for learning about that nature of punk, and has implications for philosophical issues pertaining to personal identity.

Part III The History of Philosophy and Punk

11. A Punk by any Other Name would Smell as Rotten

Gwenda-lin Grewal

Examines punk as a movement. It draws parallels between punk and a number of historical philosophers—most notably Diogenes and Socrates.

12. Revolting Punks

Christopher M. Innes

This chapter examines punk-motivated revolt. It draws heavily on the works of Diogenes.

13. The Will to Raw Power: Nietzsche, Early Punk Rock, and the Lion-Child

Casey Rentmeester

This chapter examines early punk rock (and immediate predecessors such as Iggy Pop) from a Nietzschean perspective. It turns out that there is something of a Dionysian spirit to punk.

14. Title TBD

Randall E. Auxier

Considers the question of whether punk rock sucks. The answer is to be found in the writings of Arthur Schopenhauer.

Part IV Punk Politics

15. Punk Political Philosophy

Marty Sulak

Looks at punk as expressing a coherent political philosophy (the realization that every regime, every ideology, every power structure is entropic by nature, and eventually becomes antithetical to life). The author uses this to elaborate on the role of punk.

16. Wartime Propaganda as Punk Critique in Julian Temple’s Punk Can Take It

Karen Founier

Looks at the punk film Punk Can Take It as it draws from an earlier file London Can Take It!, which was a piece of wartime propaganda. Parallels are drawn between punk music and punk film as both “call out” the promises of post-war Britain.

17. Punk Politics

Jesse Prinz

This chapter raises and addresses the question “Does punk rock have an inherent political ideology? If so, what is it (Is it anarchism, nihilism, nationalism, or something else entirely)?

18. Nazi Punks F*ck Off!: The Battle for the Soul of Punk Rock

Ryan Falcioni

Punk rockers are often accused of “gatekeeping”: telling others what does and does not count as punk. One subculture of punk that throws the whole issue into a bit of chaos involves neo-Nazis. This chapter raises the (perhaps uncomfortable) question of the place of so called “Nazi Punks” in punk as a whole.

19. “Which Side Are You On?”: The Class Consciousness of Punk

Tiffany Montoya

Raises the question of what punk has to say about class warfare. Drawing parallels between punk’s DIY ethic and movements like Marxism, this paper explains what punk can teach us about class consciousness as a whole.

Part V Punk and the Culture at Large

20. Remenbering the Punk Movement: Why Erasure of Women Does a Disservice to the Movement as a Whole

Georgina H. Mills

This chapter argues that if we remember the punk movement only by the men who were a part of it, we not only do a disservice to the female artists who were part of the scene, but we undermine the features of the punk movement that are essential to it.

21. Punk Rock Saves Lives

R.W. Main

“Punk is a celebration of the weird, rejected, othered and outcast, and often endorses the most rejected and reviled ideas and practices.” This chapter outlines how this importantly includes the LGBTQ+ community and how both cultures have been important to one another.

22. Are Punk and Christianity Compatible?

Josh Cangelosi

There are many bands that claim to be Christian punk bands. This—at first glance—may seem curious to some. This chapter raises the question whether Christianity and punk rock (and all that it entails) are actually compatible.

23. The Deviance It Deserves: On Punk Rock, Public Harassment, and Pissing People Off

Juneko J. Robinson, AKA Gitte Syndrome

There is much about punk rock that some find offensive, and to be fair, some punk lyrics are arguably offensive. However, there are also those that seem to be offended by punk rock dress or the music itself (sans lyrics). This chapter addresses the question of why that is.

24. Close Your Eyes, Breathe, and Stick It to the Man

Seth M. Walker

Draws a number of parallels between punk rock and Buddhism and shows that Buddhism and punk rock are not only compatible, but complimentary.

25. Punk and Disgust

Sara M. Bergstresser

Many punk rock shows include shocking and controversial displays involving bodily transgression. Examines how these acts can be seen as a mechanism of protest and refusal of social norms.

Part VI Aesthetics

26. Anarchy in Aesthetics

S. Evan Kreider

Raises a fairly simple question: does punk rock (successfully) challenge the idea that art is aimed inherently at beauty?

27. Rebel Girl: Riot Grrrl Punk as Feminist Aesthetic Creation

Patrick D. Anderson

Outlines how the Riot Grrrl movement was heavily influenced by feminist aesthetic traditions.

28. The Filth and the Fury: Why Do We Listen to Such Dark Punk Songs?

Greg Littmann

Raises a question that borders on the line between philosophy and psychology. Many punk songs can be described as dark (or nihilistic, depressing). So, why does anyone listen to them?

29. “Be Like Johnny”: The Ramones, the Philosophy of Work, and DIY

George A. Dunn

Examines the issue of how the DIY ethic of punks can teach us about the nature and value of work.

Part VII Punk Ethics

30. Sometimes Good Guys Don’t Wear White: DIY Virtue, Principled Hostility, and Genuine Moral Growth

Lindsey J. Schwartz

Looks at punk rock through the lens of virtue ethics. Argues that at the core of punk rock are some identifiable and important Aristotelian virtues.

31. “Out of Step with the World”: On the Ethical Value of Cultural Nonconformity

Getty L. Lustila and Johan Olsthoorn

Punk Rock—by its very nature—has quite a bit to do and say about nonconformity. This chapter raises and addresses the question: what (if any) is the ethical value in pursuing cultural nonconformity (or cultural rebellion)?