Sunday, August 12, 2007

My life change
Straight edge (also known as sXe, and xXx) refers to a lifestyle (deemed both counter culture and subculture) closely associated with hardcore punk music. There is considerable debate over what constitutes the practice of the straight edge lifestyle. The most widely associated perception involves practicing at least some degree of abstinence from alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. Some views may also include abstinence from caffeine, following a vegetarian or vegan diet, and abstinence from various levels and forms of sexual activity
Contents
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* 1 Etymology
* 2 Overview
o 2.1 Attitudes towards spirituality
o 2.2 The 'X'
* 3 Violence and gang classification
* 4 History of Straight Edge
o 4.1 Old School Era
o 4.2 Youth Crew Era
o 4.3 Straight Edge 2000 Era
* 5 In media
* 6 References
* 7 Further reading
* 8 External links

Etymology

While many of the precepts can be traced to earlier ideas, the term "straight edge" comes from the 1981 song "Straight Edge" by the hardcore punk band Minor Threat. The lyrics, written and sung by Ian MacKaye, condemn psychoactive drug use. The song begins:

“I'm a person just like you
But I've got better things to do
Than sit around and fuck my head
Hang out with the living dead
Snort white shit up my nose
Pass out at the shows
I don't even think about speed
That's something I just don't need”

—Ian MacKaye, "Straight Edge"


The chorus is the phrase "I've got the straight edge." repeated several times.

MacKaye says that he meant that by abstaining from drugs and alcohol, he had an advantage, or an "edge", when compared to those who indulged too heavily; and he was considered to be "straight" during an era where recreational drug use was closely correlated with rock and roll.

Overview

There is no single documented reason why an individual chooses to practice a straight edge lifestyle. Reasons for following it may be philosophical, theological, social or purely health related. There are various interpretations of the practice and various applications of the precepts. The label "straight edge" generally implies an acceptance of the philosophy and reasons for abstinence posited by at least one segment of the straight edge community.

Attitudes towards spirituality

There is much variation regarding viewpoints on how the straight edge philosophy affects or is affected by an individual's religion or theological associations.

Straight edge followers seem to run the religious gamut, and are comprised of atheists, agnostics, Judeo-Christian followers, and even followers of the Hindu deity, Krishna (represented in such bands as 108, Shelter and Baby Gopal).

The straight edge philosophy has been used to argue both atheistic and agnostic views. Personal responsibility, the rejection of the divine, and the concept of having an uninhibited mind have all been linked with such arguments.

Likewise, the philosophy has found itself in line with a number of Christian beliefs. The rejection of illicit substances and alcoholic beverages, as well as abstinence from premarital sex, are commonly encouraged by many mainstream churches.

There have been documented examples of an antagonistic view of individuals claiming straight edge associations towards Christian beliefs and followers. Examples include songs such as "This Ain't No Cross On My Hand" by Limp Wrist, "Real Edgemen Hate Jesus" by XfilesX, and "Straight Edge Punks Not Christian Fucks" by Crucial Attack.

The 'X'

The letter 'X' is generally the most prevalent symbol of straight edge. Commonly it is worn as a marking or tattoo on the back of one or both hands, though it can be displayed on other body parts as well. Some followers of straight edge have also incorporated the symbol into clothing and pins.

According to a series of interviews conducted by journalist Michael Azerrad, the straight-edge "X" can be traced to the Teen Idles' brief U.S. west coast tour in 1980. The Idles were scheduled to play at San Francisco's Mabuhay Gardens, but when the band arrived, club management discovered that the entire band was under the legal drinking age and therefore should be denied entry to the club. As a short-term compromise, management marked each of the Idles' hands with a large black "X" as a warning to the club's staff not to serve alcohol to the band. Upon returning to Washington, D.C., the band suggested this same system to local clubs as a means to allow teenagers in to see musical performances without being served alcohol. While the practice was never widely adopted by D.C.-area music venues, the mark soon became associated with the straight edge lifestyle.

A variation involving a trio of X's (XXX) traces its straight edge origin to artwork created by Minor Threat's drummer, Jeff Nelson, in which he replaced the three stars in the band's hometown Washington, D.C., flag with X's.

Violence and gang classification

A subset of straight edge—hardline—had a more militant mentality and was involved in physical assaults in the United States during the 1980s and up to the mid 1990s. Police in some communities—such as Salt Lake City and Reno—have classified straight edge as a gang due to violence associated with militant straight edge groups in these cities.


History of Straight Edge

Straightedge has gone through three different eras since its creation in 1980. Associated with punk-rock, the early years of the straightedge subculture are now called the Old School Era. However in the late nineteen eighties the straightedge subculture seemed to drift further and further away from the punk culture. The following era called Youth Crew, presented different types of elements that began to change the subculture. For example, vegetarianism became a major theme along with following the Krishna-consciousness faith. Youth Crew also led to tension inside the subculture. After nearly a decade of the separation of straightedge-punk from the punk culture, the era called Straight Edge 2000 brought the cultures together without clash.

Old School Era

Straight-edge ideas can be found in songs by the early-70's protopunk band The Modern Lovers, particularly their songs I'm Straight and She Cracked. With the rise of straightedge as a subculture of punk-rock, the two scenes were very closely related. Like punk-rock, the singer of an Old School straightedge band shouted more than sang. Straightedgers of the Old School Era often associated with the original punk ideals such as individualism, disdain for work and school, and live-for-the-moment attitudes. Though straightedge started on the east coast in Washington D.C. and New York, it quickly spread through the entire nation and Canada. By the mid-nineteen eighties, bands on the west coast such as Uniform Choice were gaining national acclaim. In the early stages of this subculture’s history, musical gigs often consisted of non-straightedge punk bands along with straightedge bands. However, circumstances soon changed and the Old School Era would eventually be viewed as the time “before the two scenes separated”.

Old School straightedge bands included: Minor Threat, 7 Seconds, SSD, Uniform Choice, and Cause for Alarm

Youth Crew Era

Although the music and the subculture are dependent on each other, at certain points in the subculture’s history, the musical influence seems to be stronger than at other times. During the Youth Crew Era, the influence of music seems to be at an all-time high. Furthermore, the new branches of straightedge that erect during this era all seem to come from an idea presented in a song. The Youth Crew Era emphasizes the idea that cultures are influenced by media; Music is the dominant media source for tenets of the straightedge subculture.

Starting in the mid- eighties, the Era was given the name from New York’s straightedge band Youth of Today. In their song “Youth Crew” they expressed their views on uniting the scene into a movement. The most identifiable theme that arose during the Youth Crew Era was straightedge association with vegetarianism.

In 1988 straight edge band Youth of Today released their song “No More” that would initiate this new theme within the subculture. Lead singer Ray Cappo displayed his vegan views in the lyrics: “Meat-eating, flesh-eating, think about it/ so callous this crime we commit”. By the end of the 1980s, bands all over the United States and Canada sang about animal cruelty.

During the late nineteen eighties, not all people that claimed to be straightedge identified with animal rights issues, though as the 1990s came on the horizon, bands such as Earth Crisis (with their frontman Karl Buechner) had continued this trend. By the early 1990s, hardline and militant straightedge were a well known presence in the straightedge music scene. The term militant described someone who was dedicated and outspoken, but also believed to be narrow-minded, judgmental, and potentially violent. The Militant/Hardline straightedger was characterized by the following: less tolerant of non-straightedge people, more outward pride in being straight edge, more outspoken, and believed that violence was a necessary method to promote clean living.

Straight Edge started out as a phenomenon within the punk-rock culture, then transitioned into a movement. A movement that had been perceived by some as a positive subculture associated with great morals. Other’s perceptions, which included the United States media, depicted members of the culture as “politically correct terrorists”.However, the end of the Youth Crew Era brought new elements to the straightedge subculture, elements of positivity.

Youth Crew Era bands include: Gorilla Biscuits, Judge, Bold, Youth of Today

Straight Edge 2000 Era

As the Youth Crew Era matured, some of the negative aspects that surrounded straightedge started to disappear. The Straight Edge 2000 Era once again reunited the punk-rock culture. Similar to the Old School Era, straightedge and non-straightedge bands played concerts together regularly. Since the straightedge movement had existed for around twenty years, many members disliked the Youth Crew Era style of music and principles. Others did not care about Minor Threat or any of the pioneers of the movement.

Straight Edge 2000 Era bands include: Champion, Carry On, The Unseen, Good Clean Fun, Casey Jones, Trial, Have Heart, Verse, Down To Nothing, Throwdown, Allegiance, Cast Aside, Desperate Measures, Stop And Think, Mental, Betrayed, Shere Khan and Youth Attack.

In media

* Dark Planet: Visions of America (2005) Straight edge is one of the four subcultures studied in this documentary film

* Another State of Mind (1982) documents Minor Threat and Dischord's early history, including some scenes of Ian MacKaye explaining the rationale behind straight edge.

* Professional wrestlers CM Punk, M-Dogg 20, and Josh Prohibition are straight edge and use it as their in-ring gimmicks.

* The character Jason Embry (Kyle Gallner) on the (Utah based) HBO drama Big Love identifies as Straight Edge, getting a Straight Edge tattoo in an episode. Beginning early in the second season he is seen attempting to "recruit" his best friend Ben Henrickson (Doug Smith) into the ethos, taking a hard line with him in the process. When they finally do go to a show together, Ben ends up getting beaten up.

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