Deconstructing Straight Edge lyrics and music: The Straight Edge Total Liberation ethics PDF

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Deconstructing Straight Edge lyrics and music: The Straight Edge Total Liberation ethics. Abstract Straight edge is a multifaceted phenomenon that varies across time, areas and scenes. Straight edge political identity is not solid or precise, it being more of an amalgam of conservative and progressi...

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Deconstructing Straight Edge lyrics and music: The Straight Edge Total Liberation ethics.

Abstract Straight edge is a multifaceted phenomenon that varies across time, areas and scenes. Straight edge political identity is not solid or precise, it being more of an amalgam of conservative and progressive political elements (Haenfler 2006). However, the connections between anarchy and straight edge prevail, especially over the last few years. Hardcore punk music and anarchist political philosophy are intrinsically connected, as the hardcore DIY ethics, political lyrics etc denote. Straight edge takes it a step further. Intoxication culture is often considered to serve as a form of social control and distraction, or as a weapon used by the State and government to dismantle resistant movements. Thus, for many straight edge adherents, the abstinence from the intoxication culture is also an act of resistance against the state control. Veganism and animal and earth liberation ethics are also prominent in straight edge subculture since the late 80’s, shaping the vegan branch of straight edge. In this regard, the Total Liberation movement can serve to correlate these two aspects of straight edge ideology, anarchism and earth/animal liberation ethics. Straight edge is an ideology-based music subculture (Kennedy 2008). There is a complementary relationship between the straight edge music and its ethical core, since the music reflects and incorporates the ‘message’ of each song, and the straight edge ethics are often influenced and shaped within the music scenes (Wood 2006). Though there are many musical parameters that can serve as an indicator of a subculture’s ethics (such as the form of a song, the standardized techniques, the ‘gang’ vocals etc), the lyrics constitute a prevailing one. In this paper I will use straight edge total liberation bands’ lyrics indicatively to deconstruct the relationship between straight edge subculture and the total liberation movement.

Straight edge Straight edge is a subculture that emerged from the Washington D.C. hardcore punk scene in the early 80’s, as a response to the nihilistic practices, hedonism and the no-future mantra that prevailed in the punk community at the time. Minor Threat’s songs ‘Out of step’, ‘In my eyes’ and ‘Straight edge’, espousing disdain for the drinking, drug use and promiscuous sexuality that were common among other punks during that period, both expressed the personal thoughts and views of Ian Mackaye, singer of the band, and articulated the new core values of the self-identified straight edge movement. Members of the straight edge scene abstain from drug, alcohol and tobacco use and usually reserve sexual activity for caring relationships, rejecting casual sex (Haenfler 2006, 10). Veganism and engaging in social justice practices are also considered by many as crucial aspects of straight edge identity. There is a clear connection between punk and veganism/animal rights, which is expressed through the lyrics and imagery of punk bands, the editorial and interview content of zines, numerous benefit gigs and record releases for animal liberation causes. Anarchism may be considered as a third component to this equation, since it is through anarchism’s prism that this relation is mostly seen. Anarcho-punk bands like Crass and Conflict were the first to touch upon animal exploitation and veganism issues, while introducing anarchistic radical ideas and practices, as is shown in Conflict’s “This is A.L.F.”, where direct action is broached. Straight edge lyrics started reflecting such issues of vegetarianism and animal rights by the late 80’s, during the ‘Youth Crew’ era. Veganism and animal rights politics have become fundamental elements of straight edge cultural ethos since, bringing the vegan straight edge branch into being (xvx). Such issues of animal rights and radical ecology were often advocated by a variation of the straight edge subculture that emerged during the late 1980’s and early 1990’s and distanced itself from the mainstream straight edge. This variation, which is commonly known as hardline, brought much controversy into the scene, due to the militancy and extremity of the lyrics and hardline practices. However, a Syracuse band which is often acknowledged as a musical vanguard of hardline straight edge (Robert T. Wood 2006, 51), Earth Crisis, is by many considered to be one of the most influential hardcore bands. Earth Crisis’ music both bridged the gap between metal and hardcore, planting the seeds of matalcore music and brought veganism and animal rights issues into the hardcore scene. Their extreme and violent lyrics, though dividing the scene, influenced many towards adopting a vegan lifestyle and provided a blueprint for hardcore music’s lyrical content. In this case, it was the lyrical content in tandem with the music’s sonic elements, as well as the performing techniques, that urged people and an entire

scene to bring up animal rights politics. The opening of the ‘Firestorm’ (most wellknown Earth Crisis song), features a riff which is performed homorhythmically in guitar, bass and the bass drum, creating a ‘primitive’, heavy ‘chug’ sound, which can easily be (mis)understood as a ‘call to arms’(figure 1). The force of Earth Crisis’ music and performances aptly matches the intensity of their lyrics, all of which are imbued with the power to mobilize the crowd to action against the perceived enemy. Figure 1: Firestorm’s opening riff.

Nowadays, straight edge serves as an umbrella term which covers a broad number of music genres, such as straight edge hardcore punk, hip hop, acoustic punk, grindcore etc., and a wide range of progressive and conservative principles, anarchistic or communist ideas, animal rights activism, Christian values. In this paper I focus on the relationship between straight edge and total liberation ethics.

Total Liberation The social, cultural, political and technological changes of these last decades caused both the resurgence and the revival of anarchism, which take place in unison. Contemporary anarchism places greater emphasis on the transformation of the present and on the redefinition of revolution as a reality that occurs within the current struggles and is tied to the present day success (Tomas Ibanez 2016, 20). Drawing upon post-modern perspectives and critiques of the notion of power, contemporary anarchists seek to clarify important connections between all forms of oppression and to deconstruct the power relations which are forged within the social ties. In response to this necessity of understanding and combating all forms of inequality and oppression, anarchism and contemporary schools of political thought such as intersectionality and antispeciesism were combined, and the total liberation perspective was established. Steven Best (2014) defines Total liberation as an anarchistic abolitionist movement which: •

makes use of direct action techniques and practices,

• • • •

views capitalism as an inherently irrational, exploitative and destructive system has a broad, critical understanding of how different forms of oppression are interrelated, promotes an anticapitalist alliance politics with other rights, justice and liberation movements overcomes the limitations of humanist ‘progressive’ and ‘radical’ movements in hopes of awakening political masses to the urgent necessity of veganism and animal liberation for human liberation.

The connection between anarchy and (hardcore) punk is frequently highlighted and has constituted a common theme in academic research lately. Pearson Bolt (2016) considers hardcore music to be an anarchist movement in and of itself. Hardcore community, which stands against mainstream society and operates according to its own principles, is in compliance with anarchist anti-oppression and anti-authoritarian stance. This ethos of solidarity, individuality and antiauthoritarianism expresses itself both in the culture of the hardcore scene and within the lyrics and music of hardcore bands. Gang vocals, politicized lyrics, intense percussive expression and participatory practices during the lives are some few examples of how rebellious messages are reaffirmed through sonic elements and performance techniques. The way underground hardcore punk music is produced, via DIY record labels, is also indicative of how the subculture tackles capitalism and resists the capitalistic enterprise. In Kevin Dunn’s article “If It Ain’t Cheap, It Ain’t Punk”: Walter Benjamin’s Progressive Cultural Production and DIY Punk Record Labels”, the varied ways in which DIY record labels offer possibilities for political resistance are explored. Drawing upon Walter Benjamin’s work, where the relationship between the content and the form is questioned, he argues that the political effectiveness of bands whose music is produced via DIY record labels is amplified, since the process of production can often be more important and pivotal than the content of a cultural object. Medium is the message, the practices of the DIY punk record community are far more progressive, rebellious and threatening to the status quo than a major label band singing about the evils of capitalism while wearing a leather jacket with a big circle-A on the back. Judging from hardcore punk lyrics and practices, the subcultural adaptation of total liberation ethics and ideas is also tangible. Anarchistic and total liberation perspectives are expressed through numerous bands’ lyrics, graphic designs and practices and are present in band members’ interviews or statements during the lives and the performances.

Anarchist and total liberation perspectives are also prominent in straight edge subculture. Members of straight edge use their restraint in using mind-altering substances as “a strategy of empowerment” in their quest to subvert and, in their own way, overcome the dominant system (Sarah Amber Preston 2014). Straight edge’s central principle of abstaining from toxic substances and thus living out their values in everyday life resonates heavily with post-anarchist thought, which places the struggle in here and now, seeking to create different realities. Although straight edge stood against the hedonistic egotism and violence that came with punk’s nihilism, anarchist straight edge shares with political nihilism the desire to negate all forms of representative government and the rejection of all forms of authority. Power relations are often deconstructed in anarchist thought through the prism of intersectionality theory, which highlights the connections among all forms of oppression. When it comes to anarchist straight edge, the interrelationship between capitalism, intoxication culture and the state is also emphasized. In that sense, clean living is regarded as a weapon against the state’s attempt to control and dominate people through the intoxication culture. “Straight Edge is the politics of regaining control over one's self, and of taking back fr om those who wish to enslave and control. It is the politics of rejecting the “values” a nd toxic traditions that have been instilled in civilized society. In a system dependent on the intoxication and ignorance of people, the abstention from these tranquilizers i s a refusal to comply with, and rebellion against the system.”-Zine: “Straight edge Anarchy: The danger of a sober insurrection” “Straight Edge identifying anarchists stand against religion, homophobia, sexism, raci sm and all forms of oppression and should not be confused with “hardline” ideology. Radical sobriety is not only a self-liberating act of re-wilding one's self, but also as a f orm of solidarity and support with those struggling against addiction. Embracing the intersectional struggle against all oppression and authority means solidarity with all who struggle for freedom-including freedom from addiction and the pacifying force of intoxication culture.”-Zine:”Straight edge anti-capitalist, anti-colonial, anti-fascist, vegan, queer Resistance The use of straight edge sobriety as a weapon against the dominant society and the state control is often included in the lyrical content of straight edge songs: “defy the power. fight for freedom and anarchy. conscious resistance against all authorities. your hands are just marked with ink. my X fuels the fire inside me.” - To Ashes-“Sober and dangerous”

“Straight edge cannot be considered the final goal But in order to achieve the things that count the most, we must use it as a tool” -Gather-“Escalate” Animal rights and radical ecology politics, which were introduced into the subculture by the late 1980’s, in tandem with the anarchistic view of straight edge core values and lifestyle, for many render total liberation ethics a logical extension of straight edge mentality. Below are some extracts from interviews with the vegan straight edge band ‘Gather’ singer Eva Hall and Walter Bond, a vegan straight edge activist. “Our love for punk and hardcore had everything to do with the progressive ideas and radical politics that appealed to us when we were first introduced to those genres. To us, those ideals were one and the same with the music.”-Interview with Eva “Genie” Hall (Gabriel Kuhn 2019, 23). “Shortly after I left the slaughterhouse industry and got into Animal Rights activism I stumbled across the album ‘Destroy The Machines’ by the Vegan Straight Edge band Earth Crisis. To this day I think (it) has the most amazing Animal and Earth Liberation lyrics I have ever heard before or since! Shortly thereafter I became involved in a lifestyle that was called Hardline which spawned Vegan bands like Raid, Vegan Reich, and many others. I was always attracted to how the Vegan Straight Edge message preached abstinence and compassion from an aggressive and absolutist point of view. It was the first time that doing what’s compassionate and right was presented to me in a way that appeared, well…dangerous. After viewing slaughterhouse production first hand, I was not interested in hippie and ultra pacifist answers to the horrors I had witnessed. I became Vegan out of disgust for what Animals suffered not out of sensitivity, per se. So XVX (Vegan Straight Edge) was very appealing because it was the only subculture within Animal rights that I found was approaching the issues morally and with a sense of ferocious empowerment, which is what I believed, and still believe is necessary to combat the profound wickedness of Animal use and abuse.”-Walter Bond (Pieslak 2014) Different levels of intersectionality between hardcore straight edge subculture and politics can be traced here. Eva Hall claims that she was firstly attracted to the politics behind hardcore punk subculture, whereas Walter Bond highlights the pivotal role of straight edge subculture to the reinforcement and the enrichment of his political views.

Aspects of intersectionality between total liberation ethics and straight edge music Music not only can create and communicate political meanings but, when placed in the context of social movements, can also serve as a moral reaffirmation and even draw outsiders into the movement. For example, Earth First!, the first major eco-radical group in the U.S., evidences a vibrant history of musical creation in which acoustic-guitar protest songs largely formed the cultural life of their annual meetings (“Rendezvous”) and have proven central to the group’s longevity and activism. Music can be used as a tool to help achieve particular political goals. This way, the range of musical styles on Still Wild, a collection of new and re-released songs for EF! 30th anniversary, may represent an intentional strategy to project diversity or to align with other general, left-oriented political ideologies for the purposes of solidarity and increased support. Though straight edge has music at its core, it’s an ideology-driven subculture. The tendencies within the scene frequently correspond to different ideological approaches and perceptions of straight edge core values. Straight edge music is often used as a means to communicate rebellious ideas. In this regard, although straight edge emerged from the hardcore punk scene, is now inclusive of various music genres, such as hip hop, grindcore and acoustic punk, the entity of which is attained via the unifying straight edge ethos. Straight edge music overtly delivers its political messages through the lyrics of straight edge songs. Robert T. Wood (2006) argued that music lyrics could be analyzed and regarded as historical subcultural text. Lyrics can be used as a methodolological tool to identify historical transitions in the broad ideals that seem to comprise the subculture’s frame of reference. In that sense, straight edge founding principles were articulated through the Minor Threat’s song ‘Out of step’ (I don't smoke/I don't drink/I don't fuck), Youth of today helped galvanize the subculture into a more formally identifiable entity by communicating themes of pride, commitment and unity, and the hardline extremity can easily be denoted by its violent and aggressive lyrics. Taking into consideration various bands’ lyrics which span from 90’s hardiline resurgence until today we can contextualize total liberation ethics into straight edge subcultural context. Below are featured lyrics from two straight edge total liberation bands’s songs, To ashes’ “Sober and dangerous” and xTrue Naturex’s “If it were you”: “straight edge is a political choice. straight edge is direct action.

straight edge is to be involved in the struggle for total liberation.” -To ashes, “Sober and dangerous” “What would you want someone to do for you; if this was the living hell you were forced to endure with no way out? Would you care about a movement, would you care about public opinion, would you care about anything? Or would you only focus on your liberation by any means?” -xTrue Naturex, “If it were you”. Straight edge being a multifaceted phenomenon the political identity of which being quite vague and perceived in various ways, there is urgency for straight edge adherents and musicians to contextualize their own perception of straight edge ethos into the general subcultural frame of reference. Through the lyrics of “Sober and dangerous”, the interrelationships between total liberation movement and straight edge are highlighted, drawing upon the direct action methods and lifestyle choices as a form of resistance, which are core values for both movements. In “If it were you”, the necessity of overcoming the internal disputes and limitations of movements is expressed, in order for animal liberation to be attained. In this regard, all revolutionary movements should be united under the common goal of elimination of all types of oppression and hierarchies. Thus, the critical analysis of straight edge lyrics as text allows for many valuable conclusions to be made concerning the history of the subculture and the prevailing tendencies of the scene. However, the way the lyrics are musically expressed is equally important. Below, the lyrics of Gather’s song “Total Liberation” are featured, in relation to some musical aspects of the song.

Figure 2:”Total Liberation”-Gather Lyrics: 0:03: For every life for liberation / we're dedicated to bringing freedom for all enslaved 0:13: tear the blindfold from over your eyes / forget all that you thought you once knew / after 10, 000 years of telling lies / dedicated to spreading the truth 0:36: taking pride in this path that we

half-time drum feels

D-beat pattern

double-time drum feels

tread / in defense of the earth / speaking out so the words of the voiceless can finally be heard / now's the time to take action for freedom / and justice deserved 0:52: FIGHT FOR LIFE 1:00: take a stand / for truth and compassion / there's no time to wait for change / show dedication / through your words and your actions / together we can end their suffering 1:14: TOTAL LIBERATION 1:26: smash hierarchy / don't buy into authority / strive for sustainability / resources are running out 1:44: discontent because we're not free / oppressors act out of greed / compassion and equality / are both necessary 2:06: reject the myths we were taught t...