The Olympia Riot Grrl scene in contrast to the more outwardly political Washington DC scene:
...Everybody in Olympia's tight-knit punk scene knew who these girls were. And in the political isolation of the Pacific Northwest, it was easy to be satisfied with that instead of immediately trying to push a broader political agenda. "There was a possibility that I could change punk, 'cause I belonged there," Michelle said. "It didn't feel possible to change the rest of the world--because I didn't feel part of the rest of the world." If your scene was your whole existence, then the politics of that scene became supercharged with significance; changing the world could be as simple or as elusive as changing the scene. Similarly, if the revolution was a group of friends, then living the revolution could be as simple or as elusive as making friends with the most intimidating girls you'd ever seen.
--from Girls to the Front: The True Story of the Riot Grrrl Revolution by Sara Marcus
1 comment:
yeah totally sounds familiar! i was not a riot grrrl but i was keen with anarcho-punk and academic-leftist circles (which as groups are hilariously at odds but not really) in Olympia. it was an isolated scene and so did become "supercharged with significance" (that's a sweet phrase) which enabled solidarity but to the point of becoming incestuous, so no one could really break out of their circle. i found this welcoming and imprisoning.
on a related note i think i found Oly's music scene to be more productive and appealing than its political activist scene, but that could also be because i'm kinda cynical about straight-up forms of protest. but also i found the musicians more easy-going, less judgmental, and generally friendlier to be around.
do you think the landscape is responsible for the isolation? is that a stupid question?
- Nicky
Post a Comment