Through the use of the sociological case study, defined by (Hamel, 1993, p489) as “giving special attention to totalizing in the observation, reconstruction and analysis of the cases under study”, this skate punk case study will focus upon Venice Beach skate punk band Suicidal Tendencies and two of their music videos, “Institutionalized” (1984) and “Possessed to Skate” (1986). The research will be constructed through a qualitative design, focusing upon a holist review of social fact as represented through the music video. This case study is analysing the culture of a specific group within a community (Laws, 2004, p4). Case Study theorist, Stake provides a list from which to ensure that the case study is a process of enquiry and also the product of that enquiry, meaning that the end product of research using a case study approach is sometimes the case itself (Laws, 2004, p4).
Stake’s list includes:
1. The nature of the case itself.
2. The historical background of the case.
3. The physical setting in which the case is bounded.
4. Other contexts such as economic, political and legal that impact upon
the case.
5. Other cases through which the case is recognized.
6. Those informants through who the case is known.
(Stake in Denzin & Lincoln, 2002, pp438-9)
Elements of this framework can be used to guide the case study and ascertain how a Southern Californian skate punk band chose to represent and mediate themselves and their ideologies through the music video. These elements will be addressed in the Discussion section of the thesis. From in-depth observation and analysis, it will be evident that Suicidal Tendencies represented the ethos and ideology of skate punk as an alternative to suburban American society. The focus will be upon how this mediation to the general population was seen as the workings of a rebellious youth subculture, but in actual fact, the authenticity of their rebellion paved the way for a new understanding of youth subculture. The reach of the music video influenced many on a world wide scale and the band and it’s message are still a part of society today. The case study will generate an understanding of how Suicidal Tendencies has come to represent the subculture of skate punk, maintain longevity and authenticity, and contribute to the understanding of “the reflexive project of the self” (Giddens, 1991, p52) which focuses upon freeing yourself from societal institutions and creating a life you wish to lead.
In order to effectively comprehend the way in which Suicidal Tendencies create their own authenticity and perpetuate this through their music videos, the analysis will assess what factors are attributed to an authentic skate punk band; it’s band members; it’s followers; the consumers of the music; and the proliferators of the subculture on a larger scale. The intellectual puzzles will be grounded within a developmental framework which Mason describes as “how and why did x and y develop?” (Mason, 2002, p18), focussing upon how skate punk spawned and expanded a strong subcultural identity based on its mediation of discourses and the practice of authenticity as displayed in these two music videos.
New musicology has focused upon the cultural and sociological facets of music including aesthetics, criticism and representation of issues such as gender, race, identity, and feminism rather than the positivist approach of traditional musicology which analysed musical structure and how it relates to other pieces of music . New Musicology focuses on the premise that music is “a medium that participates in social formation by influencing the ways we perceive our feelings, our bodies, our desires, our very subjectivities…” (McClary, 1987, p3). In the case study videos of Suicidal Tendencies, the powerful lyrics along with the aesthetic representations, including the recontextualization and appropriation of conservative symbols of white middle class Californian suburbia, leave the viewer with definitive ideas and understanding of the message the band is wanting to convey.
Further Primary Research
A reflexive focus on the ways in which identity is created will be essential in assessing how authenticity is generated within the realm of skate punk subculture. Interviews found on You Tube; other video mediums; and in magazines with band members and individuals that are or were involved in elements of the Southern Californian skate punk scene will be essential in garnering information for the thesis. It will also be imperative to discover what they consider important to remain an authentic member and purveyor of this subculture. Further questions will organically develop from viewing these videos.
The subject matter in Song lyrics from various skate punk bands are also a useful way of producing information on identity and authenticity in regards to skate punk. This genre of music focused on generating a message through their lyrics. This was especially apparent in the skate punk bands of the early 1980s, including Suicidal Tendencies, Black Flag, TSOL and The Circle Jerks. The two music videos that are represented in the case study are from the Suicidal Tendencies songs “Institutionalized” and “Possessed to Skate”. These lyrics will be fully examined and developed within the context of the mediation of the music video. See Appendix I.
DOCUMENTARIES
The popular and iconic documentaries and films depicting the Dogtown scene that developed in the 1970s in Venice Beach, Southern California, contribute to several different elements of the thesis. Dogtown and Z-Boys (2001) gives great insight into the history of this iconic group of skateboarders, and also serves as an investigative tool and an account of life during this period. Their contribution to the understanding and perpetuation of skate punk culture is significant. Interestingly, one of the Dogtown members, Jim Muir, is the older brother of prominent skate punk musician, Mike Muir, the lead singer of Suicidal Tendencies. Their location in Southern California further confirms the understanding that skate punk originated in this area. Other informative documentaries were Chlorine (2003) that focused upon the rise and continued pursuit of skateboarding empty pools; and The Bones Brigade (2012) which related the impact of skateboarding upon society and its mediation as a subculture.
There were also television news feature shows such as We Destroy the Family: Parents vs Punks that focused upon a rather biased negative portrayal of the punk scene through interviews conducted with parents of teen punks and the teen punks themselves. Further insight into societal perspectives of punk were seen in The Phil Donahue Show in 1984 in which Donahue conducted a show where “normal” audience members asked questions of invited “punk” guests with ‘Parents Against Punks’ founder, Serena Dank, to try and understand and ascertain what “punks” were and what they were trying to achieve. (Hannon, 2010, p76)
MTV
Music videos by the band Suicidal Tendencies implicitly display skate punk culture, encouraging an in-depth analysis of them to ascertain and describe the condensed imagery that is a vital visual aid in the portrayal of skate punk. The many meanings that are signified in these videos; Institutionalized (1984) and Possessed to Skate (1986), will contribute to the understanding of what skate punk means and how its authenticity is portrayed.
INTERVIEWS
Various interviews posted on You Tube are essential in garnering first hand views and opinions of those involved in the skate punk scene. Comprehensive interviews with Mike Muir of Suicidal Tendencies have contributed to information about the creation and development of skate punk and the ideologies Muir and his band Suicidal Tendencies represent.
MAGAZINES
Archival information in the form of relevant magazines of the period, such as Thrasher, will be extremely useful in the comprehension of what this subculture was like. Thrasher magazine was formed and ran by skateboarders on the motto of “Skate and Destroy” (Brooke, 2005, p93). This magazine supported many skate punk bands, even releasing several skate punk compilations cassettes through the 1980s. Thrasher magazine interviewed Mike Muir from Suicidal Tendencies several times, giving important insight into the
history of Suicidal Tendencies and the experiences and philosophy behind this skate punk band.
REFERENCES
Brooke, M (2005) The Concrete Wave: The History of Skateboarding Warwick Publishing: Los Angeles.
Giddens, A (1991) Modernity and Self-identity : Self and Society in the Late
Modern Age, Stanford University Press: California
Hamel, J (1993) ‘The case study in sociology: The contribution of
methodological research in the French language’, The Canadian Review of
Sociology and Anthropology; Nov 1993; 30, 4 (Accessed 25 April 2013)
Hannon, S. (2010) Punks: A Guide to an American Subculture, Greenwood
Press: California
Laws, K. & McLeod, R. (2004) “Case study and grounded theory: Sharing
some alternative qualitative research methodologies with systems
professionals”, System Dynamics Conference,
http://www.systemdynamics.org/conferences/2004/SDS_2004/PAPERS/22
0MCLEO.pdf (Accessed 15 June, 2013)
Mason, J. (2002), ‘Finding a focus and knowing where you stand’, in
Qualitative Researching, 2nd Edition, Sage:London, pp13-23
McClary, Susan and Leppert, Richard, eds. (1987). Music and Society: The
politics of composition, performance and reception. Cambridge University
Press: UK
Stake, R. (1994) “Case Studies”. In N.K. Denzin & Y.S. Lincoln (Eds)
Handbook of Qualitative Research. Sage Publications: Thousand Oaks, CA
Documentaries and Videos:
Blaring Out Show (2013) “Suicidal Tendencies Mike Muir talks w Eric Blair
about his views on Love and Life 2013”, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-
TK2-2jJAU
Chlorine – A Pool Skating Documentary (2003), Dir. Milan Spasic
Dante Madison, “We Destroy the Family: Punks vs Parents (1 of 3) 1982,”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zW1SGnB9TiQ
“We Destroy the Family: Punks vs Parents (2 of 3) 1982,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuyOcMSA7xw
“We Destroy the Family: Punks vs Parents (3 of 3) 1982”,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4zrfHGmQG8
Dogtown and Z Boys (2001), Dir. Stacey Peralta
Past Beta, “Donahue – Indecency & Obscenity, Feat 2 Live Crew circa 1990, 1
of 4”, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXkzWkx-TUs
Suicidal Tendencies (1984) “Institutionalized” Dir. Bill Fishman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoF_a0-7xVQ
Suicidal Tendencies (1986) “Possessed to Skate” Dir. Bill Fishman,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUJjsFAL0nY
Thrash Metal Tube, “Suicidal Tendencies Interviews, Part 3,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSWreC2fSMg
[This is an excerpt from my Bachelor of Arts (Sociology) Honours Thesis, submitted to the University of Wollongong Arts Faculty in 2013. I am publishing excerpts from this thesis in multiple posts. The thesis aimed to explore the youth subculture of skate punk, how its expression perpetuated authenticity through the aesthetic form of the music video, and how this was reflexive of society at a deeper social level].
[copyright 2023]