As we bring to an end
the tumultuous...thing that was 2016 our thoughts collectively turn
to asking ourselves - 'what the drokk that was all about?'. This year
will almost certainly be considered the year when several of the key
elements of the political and cultural settlement suffered a kind of
rupture – how severe a rupture remains to be seen, but the
indications are that this could be the beginning of some deeper
cultural shifts over the coming year.
The sheer number of
artists, musicians and film stars that have passed away this year has
been possibly the most visible, and emotive indicator of the changing
times. Rather than a sign of a dark, nefarious force at work it is
more simply a sign that the generation of the baby boomers, of rock &
roll and Hollywood and the whole gamut of post-war culture, is
beginning to get older. This will of course become an increasing
factor in the future, much as we would like it to be otherwise –
although that does make the need to celebrate that cultural legacy
even more important in the here and now.
But probably the
strangest aspect of the year has been way it has darkly reflected one
of rock culture's most enduring tropes. Alternative music has always
tried to channel that anarchic vibe of rebellion, of insurrection,
and of youthful insurgency; from biker gangs to skinheads to the
counterculture to protests to illegal raves to punk rock. But for
most of the time this has been simply an impression – an echo –
rather than any inclination to put it into practice. And even when it
was applied it was as the angry cry of the oppressed, such as the
Poll Tax or Brixton riots.
However, 2016 has shown
that expression being channelled in much darker ways; with street
violence, racial harassment, hate crimes, terrorism, and the rise of
authoritarian nationalism throughout the European continent and the
US. The political upheavals of the year, from Trump to Austria to
Brexit, are all linked to this same sense of aggrieved nihilism.
But where does that
lead? Where does being 'wild in the streets' take us? It must come as
little surprise if the peons to unrest and destruction that rock
culture has written ultimately has a darker side; riots and political
revolution aren't always fun, or at least not for long. If the 'man
in the street' is angry, is that always such a good thing? People are
often angry, but not always for the right reasons.
Maybe it is the
discipline of resistance, of defence, of not yielding that are the
real spirit of alternative culture; one that recognises oppression
and commits itself to fight it, and that respects diversity and
rights. Because sometime the alternatives to vanilla culture as just
as unpalatable as conformity – after all, as a great man once said,
'when you listen to fools, the mob rules.'
Happy new year,
everyone.