The Punks

The punk subculture emerged in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia in the mid-1970s.

In the United States during the early 1980s, punk underwent a renaissance in the form of hardcore punk. At the same time Britain saw a parallel movement called street punk.

Punks seek to outrage others with highly theatrical clothing, hairstyles, cosmetics, tattoos, jewelry and body modification. Early punk fashion adapted everyday objects for aesthetic effect: ripped clothing was held together by safety pins or wrapped with tape; ordinary clothing was customized by embellishing it with marker or adorning it with paint; a black bin liner became a dress, shirt or skirt; safety pins and razor blades were used as jewelry.

Some punks wear tight "drainpipe" jeans, plaid/tartan trousers, kilts or skirts, T-shirts, leather jackets. Their favourite musical instrument is guitar.

Some punks cut their hair into Mohawks or other dramatic shapes, style it to stand in spikes, and color it with vibrant, unnatural hues.

Punk subculture has generated a considerable amount of poetry and prose. Punks have their own underground press which feature news, gossip, cultural criticism, and interviews.

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