Object/ Image Analysis 200 Word Summary

Later on in term we have to create a presentation as well as an essay of 2000-2200 words on a chosen Object or image that inspires us or has some kind of personal meaning to us- I've been stuck for a while about what I could speak about. I've started researching & have now decided on my focus.


PUNK Movement!
I know it seems like quite an obvious & popular area to look at - but I have a more personal take to it as my mum was actually a punk as a teenager Protesting against politics at the time, rebelling against conformist culture.
Sadly she says she doesn't have any good photographs of herself in those days as it 'wasn't cool' to take photographs of yourself and cameras were luxury items.

Here's my 200 word summary:

Anti establishment, disaffected youth, political discontent anarchy and rock & roll. The circumstances of Britain in the winter of 1978. The state of politics at this time was unstable, unemployment reached its highest, widespread strikes were held by trade unions, people had no money and to make it worse it was the coldest winter since 1962. The outlook of life was disappointing which led to the rebelling of the youth subculture commonly known as ‘Punks’.

Punk doesn’t only exist in political context, but is an outlook on life which includes music, fashion and rebellious appearance.

Music was a massive part to the punk movement, many rock bands arouse, by the likes of ‘The Clash’, the ‘Sex Pistols’ formed by Malcolm McLaren, ‘Ramones’ and ‘Suzie & The Banshees’. Punk music began as a way of self expression against the political climate and commonly started in the garages as they didn’t have the funding for studio production. The music was usually created by talented musicians with edgy, rebellious and often political, anti-establishment lyrics.

The Punk era is renowned for its use of red tartan cloth mixed with denim and black leather, usually slashed and held together with safety pins, studs, and sometimes made statements through their clothing using abusive text. Vivienne Westwood – a self taught designer was the most influential fashion designer for the punk movement as she designed for the band Sex pistols.

In this essay I will be talking in more detail about how the political climate during the ‘winter of discontent’ led to the emergence of the punk movement as well as what happened after, with movements coming about such as new wave, new romantic and the political climate in a state of change as the recession had more or less ended and people were able to wear the clothing that they could never have worn beforehand, which we now know as 80’s power dressing. I will use Vivienne Westwood’s designs for the Sex Pistols as well as references from the film ‘Jubilee’ to explain and back up my points.