Punk Rock, Existentialism and Nihilism

The development of existentialist thought and rejection of God and reason is an important hallmark in the development of thought and philosophy in the Western World that still affects society through people’s perceptions of life. Thinkers like Friedrich Nietzsche laid the groundwork for existentialist thought with philosophies that rejected conventional ideas of God, reason, progress, and embraced the meaninglessness of life. These existentialist philosophies valued the individual and self realization over religious or conventional philosophical questions about the meaning of life. Existentialism is similar to the philosophy of Nihilism in its pessimistic world view. Existentialism and nihilism can be seen in literature, music, surrounding and post World War II.
Nihilist and Existentialist thought are similar in that they view life as essentially meaningless in an arbitrary, hostile world. Existentialists ,however, think that the actions of the individual can create meaning whereas nihilists do not believe meaning can be created through the actions of the individual. It is also important to note that existentialism rejected only the conventional morality and rational of its time whereas nihilism is characterized by the “total rejection of law” (Random House 1300) as well as conventional morality and reason. For example, artwork of Cezanne is considered “existentialist” while the conduct of Hitler during WWII might be described as nihilist.
More recently, the evolution of punk rock music espouses some nihilist and existentialist ideas, generally in a view of life as meaningless. It is also known that a small sect of punk rock developed into a kind of Neo-Nazi punk. The Sex Pistols use nihilist thought in their view of life as meaningless and in their rejection of law and authority. Elements of nihilist and existentialist philosophy can be found in the lyrics of mainstream punk rock groups like Green Day and Blink 182. Blink 182’s song Here’s Your Letter and Shut Up, speak of “life that’s lost all meaning” and “[a] life meaningless .. going nowhere” that(in this song)spurs the lyricist to act. The general ideas and elements of existentialism and nihilism stemming from WWII can be found throughout society, literature and music today. (Age of Anxiety Chap.28- Connection Across Time)

http://web.mit.edu/ducktape/www/nihilism.html http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/415081/nihilism
http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/119735 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punk_rock
http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=1568