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What's
your price
I
always wanted to write about this. Of my aspect why DIY bands must
remain DIY and why this is a relevant case in the HC/punk community.
I don't want to sound like there is only black and white, only right
and wrong, but it feels very important to me that this remains true
not just a transition into the world of mainstream living and submitting
yourself once again. This is exactly what this community must not
become. I look on this community as a revolt against all the shit
that is happening around us, the entire world of hypocrisy and the
lost of human dignity as a people. The lost of identity, becoming
a fucking number and acting like they say jump and we say how high.
The HC/punk community is a fucking revolt, a resistance against the
increased stupidity of the human kind. We are the threat to this society,
to everything that represents by itself (consumption, boredom, violence,
greed…). This is why I think that selling out is an offer to this
society by which it sees the HC/punk community as just another free
market to have its products sold and its mentality accepted.
The following example is from a recent show that Boy Sets Fire had
in our little town. I got their The day the sun… LP a few days earlier.
I was very much pleased when I saw their thoughts about the DIY philosophy
written on the disc. And then I saw their new LP at the show and it
had a Victory recs logo in the back. And I was looking around it to
see if it is a mistake or a joke. It wasn't. It had a barcode on it.
And I remembered the words on their last record. I remembered everything
said about D. I. Y. ethics and how thought out it all sounded. But
now as I am looking at this piece of plastic sold to punkCore community
for prices exactly like in the biggest music stores I wonder: "Where
has it gone? Where is the spirit of communication, of awareness of
yourself, where are those d. i. Y. ethics that we are longing for,
where is our freedom?" And then I remember that I don't need
shit like that preached at the punk show. I stayed to see how it would
turn out. Their singer spoke something about president elections in
the U$A. You stupid fuck! By carrying a barcode on your "product"
you actually support them in whatever they say or do. And literally
whatever they say or do. The money of those young "punks"
buying Victory recs merchandise goes straight to the greedy, racist,
homophobic capitalistic fucks in the top. You actually support the
exploitation of these people (punks) and you actually lie to yourself
about how "punk" you are.
I sometimes wonder what do we have left. If there still can be this
obvious exploitation of punk community then why are we not afraid
and better, why don't we do something against it? I offer some solutions
and mind you, this is not what it should be done or what is right
or wrong from my point of view. This is just a couple of thoughts
by me and not necessarily agreed.
1. Trying to spread the word of the DIY philosophy… what it is, how
can be put into actions, how to work together in the terms of DIY
ethics… it is of most importance that we deal with this now than when
it is too late. DIY ethics are a marvellous way to act on your own
and in groups without leaders and oppression. Also important is that
we (speaking of those who already know these ways) try to take this
a step further. Making DIY philosophy not just an HC/punk part but
also a part of our lives.
2. Reducing the mainstream (major label) shit distributed in the underground
HC/punk movement. Distributors, avoid records of any kind with bar
codes on them because bar codes are the destroyers of our counterculture.
Bar codes are the tool of capitalism to gather money much easier.
And of course to support further exploitation of HC/punk community
and people around you.
3. Kids, do not buy records with bar codes on them because by doing
that you support the exploitation of yourselves and others too. Please,
there are tons of great bands around you that do not need bar codes
to spread their message all over the world. Support them and give
them a chance to feel they have achieved goals they have set for themselves.
4. Try doing everything by yourself. Grow your own vegetables, buy
only products that you need, buy only necessities (you don`t have
to buy 150$ Nike shoes because you don`t really need them)so you give
only small amount of your( or your parents!)money to capitalist exploitators
, organise your own shows (but do not invite major label bands!),
make your own house if you have an ability to do that, fix everything
by yourself if you know how…etc., etc…
These
were only my thoughts over the DIY philosophy or ethics, you choose.
I can believe that it is hard these days of trying to do everything
by yourself but if we try I am sure there is a way. So again I encourage
you to stop buying bar coded HC/punk records and focus on smaller
labels and support those bands that really need support. Sadly there
are more and more bands and people who rather choose easier way and
let others do everything instead of them, they only collect the money
and "see ya!". I feel worried because nobody should be nobodys
slave. Fight the exploitators within HC/punk scene and outside! One
question for you reader, when do you feel more satisfied, when you
accomplish things by yourself or when somebody else is feeding you
with the golden spoon?…
