Producing Activists: A Punk Rock Counterstory
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D)
Department
Literature and Languages
Date of Award
5-22-2024
Abstract
My dissertation is a rhetorical historiography of a compilation of hardcore and punk music that was produced in two volumes entitled Rock Against Bush—an example of protest music that emerged as a direct response to the pro-war, anti-Muslim rhetoric that emerged in first decade following 9/11. In doing so, I approach the protest music included in this compilation, as well as the associated performances and embodied rhetorical spaces, as counterstories designed to disrupt the dominant narrative of almost McCarthy-Era patriotism in of the period. This dissertation will also take up the compilation album’s companion website punkvoter.com. My purpose is to produce a historiography of the 2004 punk and hardcore political movement against George W. Bush (W.), and the dominant narrative he was weaving that War in Iraq was justified. The compilations and tour were organized by Fat Mike (from the band NOFX) and his label Fat Wreck Chords, which created a tangible political literacy campaign, one that endeavored to register a political opposition to vote out W. This opposition was focused on anti-war and social justice platforms, which are espoused in the lyrics. The liner notes provide facts of the administration, links to alternate news platforms, as well as explain what a fan of the music can do. The web site contains information and links required to register to vote, and this site is maintained by a fan to this day. This shift from a music seen as anti-establishment to one that worked within the system it wanted to change shows the lengths this movement went to produce a fan base of active voters. By examining these artifacts through the Counterstory lens of Critical Race Theory (CRT), the movement against George W. Bush by punk and hardcore bands and fans will present an alternative story to the dominant narrative of the time: namely that the pro-war, anti-dissent, freedom-fry America of the early 2000s was not supported by everyone. This literacy campaign produced the author of this dissertation, and connections to this music is made through anecdotes from the author.
Advisor
Shannon Carter
Subject Categories
Arts and Humanities | Rhetoric and Composition
Recommended Citation
McShane, Brian, "Producing Activists: A Punk Rock Counterstory" (2024). Electronic Theses & Dissertations. 1161.
https://digitalcommons.tamuc.edu/etd/1161
