Post-Punk and Philosophy - by Joshua Heter & Richard Greene (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

What sort of thing is Post-Punk? Is it merely a musical genre, an artistic movement, or something else altogether? What is the proper role of emotion in the intellectual life? Is any attempt to be cool an inherently losing battle; should I embrace my eccentricities? Does a counterculture need to care about change, or can it simply focus on its art? Are nihilism and love compatible? Is the best way to deal with a bleak worldview simply to embrace it through art? How much should we care (if at all) about the moral failings of the artists whose work we love so much? What exactly is authenticity, and how important is it?

As a result of so much thoughtful artistry and music-making, the editors of this book were fortunate enough to bring together the talented authors whose work comprises it as they raise, clarify, and even attempt to answer some of these questions. Thankfully, their creativity and innovation are worthy of the Post-Punk creatives about which they've written. And, their varied and eclectic perspectives are akin to the variety of influences that led to and help make Post-Punk such a unique and beloved art form.

So, that's how we got here; through and past the downward spiral of Punk's initial wave, alternative rock music came out stronger and even more diverse and compelling with the advent of Post-Punk, and we are now in a position to reflect deeply on the movement as a whole. Perhaps if we think carefully enough about it all, we might even be able to discover where we go from here." (From the editors' introduction, "Well, How Did We Get Here?")

Review Quotes

"Post-Punk is sometimes seen as Punk Rock's more brainy offspring. From the Western
philosophical tradition to feminist theory and global indigenous thought, the
chapters in this exciting volume engage us in a bracingly original
thought-experiment about the significance of popular music culture."

--Gavin Butt, author of No Machos or Pop Stars (2022)

"A welcome addition to the growing body of
thoughtful writing on this thrilling musical moment. Framing its subject with a
multitude of philosophical approaches including dialectics, aesthetics, and
existentialism, this collection will spark a whole lot of debate on the meaning
and value of Post-Punk."

--David Wilkinson, PhD, author of Post-Punk, Politics, and Pleasure in Britain
(2016)

"An exhilarating collection of chapters that delve into the multifaceted topic of
Post-Punk and the philosophy contained therein. It draws upon insightful
schools of thought, explored with great articulacy, focused on a time and place
that I experienced personally. Could this be the definitive volume on the
subject?"

--Mike Joyce, drummer for The Smiths

"Post-Modern, Post-Truth, and yes--Post-Punk! Punk was at
least an attitude, born of dashed optimism. So now what? Post-Optimism? Well,
get a six-pack, after your holiday in the sun, and curl up with this book. Read
it!!!"

--Theodore G. Ammon, Editor of David Bowie and Philosophy: Rebel Rebel (2016)

"This grand collection of essays has me revisiting every inch of a genre of music
that many wrote off as hollow echoes of art and technology. What this book
reveals is that it was art and technology born out of loss, loneliness,
anxiety, and uncertainty, and I'm here for it."

--Rob Hawthorn, co-host of the podcast,
Deep Dives and Deep Cuts: Punk, Post-Punk, and New Wave 1976-1986