The Punks Are Alright

Assess the role of Punk Music in contemporary religious and political debates in Brasil and Indonesia. (How has this movie changed your perceptions of youth culture in these two communities? In what ways can you relate to the lifeways of the artists chronicled?)

Punk Music is a phenomenal outlet for the frustrations and anger pent up at an unjust society. Before viewing and discussing this topic, I did not understand. I had assumed from my own personal experiences with the punk scene that this community was solely about rebellion, with abandon for reason or calm interactions. I now see how invaluable an art form it is: Punk provides a platform through which those oppressed can speak out--loudly. While this speaking out may not better their situation, or placate their sense of powerlessness, it creates a community and community-feel that supports them both inside and outside of the time during which they participate in their Punk Music. I see in Brasilian and Indonesian youth something that I had not recognized before: hope, and a ferocious drive to change. In a place where I once saw little-no possibility for betterment, I saw in these people the determination and (even extreme) passion necessary for change.

This spark of hope within each youth, through either the banging of a drum or screaming of a lyric, was definitely an inspiring thought. Both of these communities observe what is wrong in their community and aren't waiting for someone else to come along and fix it. They are speaking out and mobilizing themselves to be able to change their own lives and communities.

While religion is such a battleground and catalyst for violence in both communities, Punk seemingly acts as a kind of religion by standing in as a strong belief system of basely positive goals. From what I now understand Punk represents: support of one another, respect for community, and intensity of determination to spread awareness for and make better prevalent issues within/extending beyond the community. Compared to other organized religion, this community-based "faith" brings people together in a pragmatic social manner, as opposed to a dangerous, confrontational one.

Punk Music in particular also promotes the idea of democracy and moving away from capitalism, more-than-sizable debates within Brasilian and Indonesian society. Punk, in attempting to unite the people, helps to identify main goals and beliefs that aid the successful formation of a democratic government. Also, the more each person is viewed and valued as an individual human being (a thought at the heart of Punk), the greater chance for the eradication of capitalism.

I relate to the lifeways of the artists in that I too believe in equality, change, and not just "sitting on the sidelines" waiting for these important movements to take flight. I also rebel in my own ways by either participating in or avoiding certain activities, in an effort to better my life and the lives of those around me. Even though change is slow--such as the around thirty years it took to spreak Punk from Canada to Brasil to Indonesia--it is worth the fight.

-Krista Schaarschmidt