History is a Punk

the British 1970s through the Punk Movement

Díaz Fernández, Ylenia

The aim of this book is to study the links between the origins and evolution of British Punk in the 1970s and the historical, economic, and social events of the England in that decade, in order to analyze how punk artists reflected those events in their art. This book will narrate how British punk would not have arisen or thrived during times of economic prosperity as the decline in social and economic conditions in the United Kingdom during the 1970s, paved the way for the rise of a music genre driven by frustration. To do so, this book will survey the discographies of more than 100 punk bands, paying special attention to their lyrics, aesthetics, and other artifacts of the genre. Additionally, we will demonstrate how punk also became a platform for young people to showcase their voices and individuality and how it provided a space for young individuals to openly showcase their identity and share their personal experiences.