What are some punk lingo I'm researching for a class?

Answer 1

Generally punks use the same lingo as anyone else but street lingo - often associated with urban music/fashion/lifestyle - transfers over well to a music/fashion/lifestyle such as punk that was born on the streets too. Some terms associated with punk include: 77 - referring to the year 1977, generally considered the birth of punk 83 - considered the height/beginning of the American hardcore movement. hardcore - the version of punk when it changed from the old school style in the 1970's to the newer, faster version popularized in the 1980's. Most often thought of as the American version of punk as well. Later, hardcore changed in style and sound to become a specific genre of punk. liberty spikes - a style of spiked punk haircut resembling the points atop the Statue of Liberty. Usually a head full of spikes. Sometimes a mohawk of spikes - not the brush version - are called Liberty Spikes. This is not normally thought of as Liberty Spikes by punks. squat - a squat is a home or building where people - squatters - live without permission or in a community setting with several people chipping in just enough money to pay the bills. Popular among crust punks. crust punks - or crusties. Punks who prefer the faster, harder, and ultimately more political version of punk known as crust punk. Crust punks are thought of as being more prone to homelessness, drug addiction, and often train hop or hitchhike around the country. They live a more nonconformist, off-the-grid lifestyle than many punks who come from broken yet suburban homes. Sometimes called Crusties. back patch - the large center patch on the back of a punk's jacket. Holds special meaning. butt flap - the patch that hangs down in the back of a punk's pants. Originally meant as a way to cover holes in the back of pants, it later became more of a fashion statement. Generally associated with crust punks. curb job - more associated with Skinheads, but known in the punk community. A curb job is when a person is told to "bite the curb," or place their top teeth on the curb of a street. Then, the back of their head is stomped on by a person, usually with a boot. The effect is to break all of that person's top teeth. This was demonstrated in the movie "American History X," but does not usually result in death in real life. Stomped - To get stomped or have a boot party done on a person is also a term associated with skinheads but known in the punk community. It means when several people - usually wearing combat boots - kick one person on the ground repeatedly. This was demonstrated in a scene in the movie "Kids." Fairly accurate. Straight Edge - a form of punk connected to American hardcore that began in the early 1980's out of the Washington, DC scene with the band Minor Threat. It is stance to remain drug free in order to keep a person's mind clear. It also became a way to avoid the "mind-controlling tempations" of corporate America, as many people believe drugs are a way to pacify people and stop them from fighting back against "the system." Later, Straight Edge - or SXE - also incorporated everything from not drinking caffeine to not having promiscuous sex. A more militant version of Straight Edge developed known as Hardline that often resulted in people getting hurt who chose to indulge in drugs. Emo - a softer more effeminate version of pop-punk that came to the forefront in the late-1990's. Originally much like pop-punk (aka the Ramones for example vs. sex pistols), Emo took the melodic, introspective music of pop-punk and turned it more acoustic and in some cases more influenced by 80's British post-punk such as the Cure. There are plenty of more terms. For a good book defining punk, read "The Philosophy of Punk."