The Sounds of Dissent: Czechoslovak Punk Rock from Communism to Democracy Restricted; Files Only

Abstract

This thesis explores the evolution of Czechoslovak punk music and culture following the 1989 Velvet Revolution, a period marked by the country’s transition from communist rule to democracy. Punk, originally a rebellious force against state oppression, faced new challenges as the regime that it had fought against collapsed. This study investigates how Czechoslovak punk communities adapted to a post-communist landscape, navigating newfound freedoms while questioning their relevance in a rapidly changing society. By examining the role of rural spaces, alternative journalism, and evolving political and racial dynamics, the research analyzes how punk in Czechoslovakia redefined itself in response to the dissolution of Soviet-backed authoritarianism. Through the lens of cultural production, this thesis argues that the death of punk, as proclaimed in the 1989 Vokno fanzine, was not an end but a transformation—a process of reinvention driven by new creative and ideological forces. Despite the disillusionment that accompanied the collapse of the communist regime, punk’s dissident spirit remained, splintering into scores of new subgenres and continuing to serve as a vehicle for youth resistance and critique into the mid-1990s.

Table of Contents

1.     Introduction………………………………………………………………..……1

2.     Chapter 1: Punk and Rural Life…………………………………................…...7

3.      Chapter 2: Samizdat and the Fanzine Scene……………................…………..25

4.     Chapter 3: Anarchy, Fascism, and the Aesthetics of Violence–Oi!.....................46

5.     Conclusion……………………………………………………………..……….61

6.     Bibliography………………………………………………………....................66

About this Honors Thesis

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School	Emory College
Department	History
Degree	B.A.
Submission	Honors Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Anthropology, Cultural Music Slavic Studies
Palavra-chave	subcultures punk Czechoslovakia
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Matthew Payne, Emory University
Committee Members	Raymond De Luca, Emory University Thomas Rogers, Emory University

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