Rocking the Washington Monument: Subverting Capitalism: The Punk Rock Subculture of Washington, D C

Authors

Mike Addabbo, St. Mary's College of Maryland

Abstract

(Winning Entry 2002 SAS Student Paper Competition: Undergraduate) The punk subculture of Washington, D.C., proclaims a strong, anti-commercial, anti-consumerism, and anti-capitalism sentiment. Operating as a separate network of bands and listeners from the major record labels of the U.S., the subculture attempts to challenge the role of profit in musical production. The creation of CDs, T-shirts, and other commodities by the subculture suggests otherwise, but through its independent network of bands, labels, and venues, these commodities circulate at a lower cost than those within its parent culture. In emphasizing artistic credibility over profit, the ideals of the subculture attempt to challenge those of the profit-oriented music and fashion industries of mainstream America.

Relational Format

journal article

Recommended Citation

Addabbo, Mike (2002) "Rocking the Washington Monument: Subverting Capitalism: The Punk Rock Subculture of Washington, D C," Southern Anthropologist: Vol. 29: No. 1, Article 6.
Available at: https://egrove.olemiss.edu/southern_anthropologist/vol29/iss1/6