Paper Summary:

The paper focuses on the evolution of punk and its mutation into the more politically charged anarcho-punk movement and explores the violent side of the extreme left - both as an international force and in particular in Switzerland. The paper then discusses the Bern-based Antifa Switzerland group and explores the motivations of the Black Bloc anarchists. The paper highlights the use of violence in the anti-fascist movement and the connection between today's violent anarcho-punks with the ideals of the original punk movement. Several photographs are included with the paper.

Outline:
Introduction
Punk's First Wave
Punk Arrives in Switzerland
Switzerland, Anarcho-Punk, and Post-war Politics in the 21st Century
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"The media, however, interpreted the punks' image, music, and reckless behavior as a real threat to the status quo. This culminated in December of 1976 when the Sex Pistols and members of the Bromley Contingent appeared on the Bill Grundy television show in England. At the time of this momentous event, punk was still in its early stages. The public-at-large had little way of knowing about punk at the time. What they saw was a group of extravagantly dressed young people, visibly intoxicated, who took relish in using offensive words and insulting the host of the program in a manner that went way beyond the accepted morals of the time. The Bill Grundy episode would spiral the fledgling youth subculture into the wider cultural spotlight. At that point, punk was no longer a tiny subculture, but a mass media spectacle that would shock the conservative British public and inspire similar-minded youth all over the world."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Hebdige, Dick. Subculture: The Meaning of Style. London: Routledge, 1979.
• Sargeant, Jack, ed. Guns, Death, Terror: 1960s & 1970s Revolutionaries, Urban Guerillas, and Terrorists. London: Creation Books, 2003.
• Savage, Jon. England's Dreaming: Anarchy, Sex Pistols, Punk Rock, and Beyond. ondon: St. Martin's, 2002

Visitors who viewed this Research Paper also liked these:

• Essay # 90025 : "The Anti-Globalization Movement"
• Essay # 71823 : "The Anti-Contraception Movement"
• Research Paper # 39933 : "Liberation and the Women's Movement in Jordan"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: