DIY Ethic - Punk Culture

Punk Culture

In the punk subculture, the DIY ethic is tied to punk ideology and anticonsumerism, as a rejection of the need to purchase items or use existing systems or processes that would foster dependence on established societal structures. According to the punk aesthetic, one can express oneself and produce moving and serious works with limited means. Arguably since the 1970s; emerging punk bands began to record their music, produce albums and merchandise, distribute their works and often performed basement shows in residential homes rather than at traditional venue, to avoid corporate sponsorship or to secure freedom in performance. Since many venues tend to shy away from more experimental music, houses and other private venues are often the only places at which these bands can play.

Riot Grrrl, associated with third wave feminism, also undertook the core values of punk in terms of the DIY ethic by utilizing creative ways of communicating through zines and other projects.

Adherents of the DIY punk ethic can also work collectively. For example, punk impresario David Ferguson's CD Presents was a DIY concert production, recording studio, and record label network.

The German punk band Mono für Alle! perfected the massproduction of an selfmade DIY album including a tinkered wooden cover and sold over 6000 pieces from their website and other alternative sources.

The DIY punk ethic also applies to simple everyday living, such as learning bicycle repair rather than taking a bike to a mechanic's shop, sewing/repairing/modifying clothing rather than buying new clothes, starting vegetable gardens, and reclaiming recyclable products by dumpster diving. Some educators also engage in DIY teaching techniques, sometimes referred to as Edupunk.