Burning Fight: The Nineties Hardcore Revolution in Ethics, Politics, Spirit, and Sound

I recently found out about a new book about hardcore culture. I haven't picked it up yet, so as soon as I get it I'll post a review. The book is called "Burning Fight: The Nineties Hardcore Revolution in Ethics, Politics, Spirit, and Sound" and it's by Brian Peterson. The book is supposed to cover where 80s hardcore left off and discuss the culture that embraced straight edge, animal rights, D.I.Y., and spirituality into their lives and hardcore.

I find the concept of this book rather interesting by the fact that the author was into hardcore in his teens in the 90s and now is a writer and high school English teacher. Just because you're a punk as a kid or even listen to hardcore as an adult does not mean that you can't become whatever you want in life. Hardcore isn't a barrier to life and you can live your life as an adult outside of the scene and still enjoy the music and culture.

I think that too many people see subcultures like hardcore as a dead end. It's whatever you make it, it's not a beginning or and end, it's part of life and a means to get some enjoyment from the world around.

When the Label Has Gone Mainstream

Straight Edge is now such a huge term that many people simply use it to refer to anyone quite often that doesn't do drugs, smoke or drink. I've seen it commonly used in articles (such as this one about "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist". The term is becoming universal and synonomous with those that abstain from the drugs, etc. How does the use of the phrase outside of the community and when refering to those that haven't officially "claimed" to be Edge effect others that hear it? I imagine that it is actually a good thing, in the end. Certainly it can be used to make fun of others and mock them as being "straight edge" since they don't follow the crowd. But for me I'd rather be mocked for following my choices than be mocked for following other's choices.

To me I see this use as a way to influence other's and show them that there are people that abstain from poisoning one's self. Granted the context will have to be positive in most cases to make it an influencer, but I can see people realizing the positive aspects of such a life even if they don't officially make a claim or get inked.