Notes From Underground - Duncombe

Duncombe's article covers a lot of ground in only a few pages, discussing the nature of community in the punk scene, particularly through zines. I thought the idea of a continuous conflict between "rebellious individualism and group identity" hit on something very real to any one with some experience in some kind of rebellious subculture. It's a perfect, concise way to state it. I couldn't help but think about the idea of creativity itself, especially in "art," and the generalization in society of what it means and/or looks like to be a "creative" person or "artist". This is, I believe, the most general form of conflict, and punk could be considered one side of that. It's a somewhat oxymoronic idea, as Duncombe points out. However, there's really no way to get around it, since in declaring that it is self-contradictory to single oneself out as a particular rebellious identity, the one making the declaration is really simply defining the identity in another way. This contradiction, according to Duncombe's elegant point, is the very nature of this scene, but it is also the root of the ineffectiveness of the political side of this community. The specialized nature of the "zine" phenomenon, where the extremely personal and subjective can be published and distributed...to those of like mind, is clear evidence presented for Duncombe's argument. The community starts out in rebellion against society, but embracing politics thought in some fantasy to apply to the whole world. In getting so caught up with the tiny sects they exist in, it becomes quite easy to forget the rest of the world. There goes the revolution!

Discussion question:
Duncombe points out that for many, the importance lies in expressing what is real for that individual because the rest of society does not concern itself with that experience. What do you think of this? Why is there such an appeal in pointing out that your oppression is ignored by others. Are zines self-indulgent in your opinion?