Musik har i århundraden varit ett uttryck för mänskliga förhållanden och relationer i samhället. Denna uppsats behandlar den brittiska och svenska punkkulturens identitetsskapande under slutet av 1970-talet. Tidigare forskning tyder på att 1970-talets punkvåg var en svårtolkad rörelse, vars attityder och aktiviteter än idag betraktas som ambivalenta av forskare runt om i världen. Huruvida punkkulturen var vänster- eller högerpolitisk, liksom sexistisk eller feministisk, är en komplex fråga. Genom att granska de båda ländernas två främsta, mest inflytelserika punkbands texter, med fokus på politik, etablissemang, upproriskhet, utsatthet och genus, skapas förståelse för budskapen som formade punkidentiteten. The Clash och Sex Pistols var de två största punkbanden i Storbritannien under 1970- talet. De motsvarande svenska banden var Ebba Grön och KSMB. Uppsatsen utgår från två frågeställningar: Vilka identitetsskapande budskap förmedlade banden genom sina låttexter? Kan man urskönja någon skillnad i förmedlingen mellan länderna?, och kombinerar den kvalitativa och kvantitativa metoden. Studiens främsta resultat är att den brittiska punkkulturen identifierade sig som upprorisk och antiauktoritär, i likhet med anarkismens ideal. Den svenska punkidentiteten formades av ett större politiskt intresse och en större politisk medvetenhet. De kulturella skillnaderna mellan länderna har haft stor betydelse för nationernas punkkulturer, där upplevelsen av utanförskap är gemensamt men beskrivs olika. Gängtillhörighet, ofta kopplat till olika etniciteter, beskrivs av de brittiska punkbanden som den största faktorn till utanförskap. Enligt de svenska punkbanden är bosatthet i förorten den största faktorn till segregation.

<p>This thesis describes how the punk movement was started in Sweden and how it continued to grow in the late 70's. The main questions are: How was the punk movement regarded in Sweden?; How did punk reflect the society? and What does the term punk represent?</p><p>The study is based on journalistic texts in newspapers and magazines from the period of the breakthrough of punk. The work is based on a methodical review of the material and is organized thematically under topics like opinions, gigs, clothing and music. Initially, punk lead to misunderstandings and misperceptions since few people knew what punk was all about. The study reflects society in its time and is therefore more than just a caption of history.</p><p>Punk attracted much attention in Sweden in 1977 and in its wake came a number of misunderstandings due to the punk look and the ‘punks’ alleged views. During 1978, the punks got their own Swedish identity and a lot of the misconceptions started to disappear. In time, ties were tied between the former rivals, the punk, and the Swedish music movement (Musikrörelsen). The situation changed by the principle of 'Do it yourself' (DIY) in the punk when more young people started doing something for themselves rather than being passive.</p>

This thesis describes how the punk movement was started in Sweden and how it continued to grow in the late 70's. The main questions are: How was the punk movement regarded in Sweden?; How did punk reflect the society? and What does the term punk represent? The study is based on journalistic texts in newspapers and magazines from the period of the breakthrough of punk. The work is based on a methodical review of the material and is organized thematically under topics like opinions, gigs, clothing and music. Initially, punk lead to misunderstandings and misperceptions since few people knew what punk was all about. The study reflects society in its time and is therefore more than just a caption of history. Punk attracted much attention in Sweden in 1977 and in its wake came a number of misunderstandings due to the punk look and the ‘punks’ alleged views. During 1978, the punks got their own Swedish identity and a lot of the misconceptions started to disappear. In time, ties were tied between the former rivals, the punk, and the Swedish music movement (Musikrörelsen). The situation changed by the principle of 'Do it yourself' (DIY) in the punk when more young people started doing something for themselves rather than being passive.