What Is Post-Punk?: Genre and Identity in Avant-Garde Popular Music, 1977-82

The post-punk movement of the late 1970s and early 1980s was a diverse and experimental era in popular music, combining elements of electro-pop, distorted guitars, avant-garde industrial sounds, and reggae beats. Mimi Haddon's book "What Is Post-Punk?" explores the discursive foundations of post-punk across publications such as Sounds, ZigZag, Melody Maker, the Village Voice, and the NME, and presents case studies of bands including Wire, PiL, Joy Division, the Raincoats, and Pere Ubu. By positioning post-punk in relation to genres such as punk, new wave, dub, and disco, Haddon reveals it as a community of tastes and predilections rather than a stylistically unified whole.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 236 pages
Publication date: 06 February 2023
Publisher: The University of Michigan Press

The late 1970s and early 1980s were a vibrant era for popular music in the US and UK, characterized by an eclectic and experimental spirit. This period saw the emergence of a genre known as "post-punk," which was characterized by a fusion of diverse musical elements. Post-punk encompassed a wide range of sounds, including electro-pop melodies, distorted guitars, avant-garde industrial sounds, and reggae beats. It defied easy categorization and represented a departure from the traditional musical conventions of the time.

In order to understand the significance of post-punk, it is essential to examine the discourse surrounding the genre in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Mimi Haddon, in her book "What Is Post-Punk?" combines a close reading of the music press discourse with musical analyses and theories of identity to unpack post-punk's status as a genre. Haddon traces the discursive foundations of post-punk across publications such as Sounds, ZigZag, Melody Maker, the Village Voice, and the NME. She presents case studies of bands including Wire, PiL, Joy Division, the Raincoats, and Pere Ubu, highlighting their contributions to the development of post-punk.

By positioning post-punk in relation to genres such as punk, new wave, dub, and disco, Haddon explores the boundaries of post-punk and reveals it as a community of tastes and predilections rather than a stylistically unified whole. Haddon diversifies the discourse around post-punk, examining both its gender and racial dynamics and its proto-industrial aesthetics. She seeks to restore the historical complexity surrounding the terms and origins of post-punk, highlighting its significance as a genre that challenged traditional musical conventions and paved the way for future musical innovations.

In conclusion, the late 1970s and early 1980s were a fertile ground for the emergence of post-punk, a genre that fused diverse musical elements and defied easy categorization. Mimi Haddon's book "What Is Post-Punk?" provides a comprehensive analysis of the discourse surrounding the genre, exploring its discursive foundations, musical characteristics, and historical significance. By positioning post-punk in relation to other genres and examining its gender and racial dynamics, Haddon restores the historical complexity surrounding the terms and origins of post-punk, highlighting its role as a genre that shaped the future of popular music.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780472039210