What is emo culture. Youth subculture emo

From Thursday to Jimmy Eat World, from Weezer to Brand New, Empire! Empire! (formerly Lonely Estate) to Paramore - all emos are passionate about music. Listen different groups, understand what you like. If some music really catches you, check out the child genres, such as screamo and emocore. You may not like this kind of music at all, well, in this case, you can express yourself in style and lifestyle. Below is short list emo-groups, which is worth getting acquainted with the novice emo-kid. You may not like this playlist, but you will still remain a passionate emo fan:

  • Rites of Spring - Rites of Spring
  • Embrace - Embrace
  • Sunny Day Real Estate - Diary
  • Weezer - Pinkerton
  • Dashboard Confessional - Swiss Army Romance
  • The Get Up Kids - Something to Write Home About
  • I Hate Myself - Ten Songs
  • Thursday - Waiting
  • My chemical romance- I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love
  • Taking Back Sunday - Tell All Your Friends
  • Hawthorne Heights - The Silence in Black and White
  • Silverstein - When Broken is Easily Fixed
  • Texas is the Reason - Do You Know Who You Are
  • The Promise Ring - Nothing Feels Good
  • Jimmy Eat World - Clarity
  • Jawbreaker - 24 Hour Revenge Therapy

Understand the sub-genres of emo. This will help you decide on your favorite style of music. You may hate some of them, then it's worth trying others. Here is a list of the main ones:

  • Emocore, short for "emotional hardcore", originated as a genre of hardcore punk in Washington in the 80s with the help of Rites of Spring and Embrace. A mixture of punk and lyrics.
  • Indie emo. The genre developed in the 90s when emo became more than just punk rock. These bands play music with more indie leanings than punk. Representatives: Dashboard Confessional, Further Seems Forever, Sunny Day Real Estate and Mineral.
  • Emo pop. Born in the 90s on the wave of emo recovery and mixing with pop punk. Representatives: The Get Up Kids, Jimmy Eat World, Paramore and The Starting Line.
  • Screamo. A subgenre of emocore based on screaming performance, fast tempo, harsh sound, and complex lyrical content. Representatives: The Saddest Landscape and Orchid.
  • Go to concerts. Initially, emo started as a movement in a small group, but attracted the attention of the whole country. Rekindle that awesome touch with the initial momentum by putting on a little show in your own backyard. You can also go on the Warped Tour and see the bands you listen to and see the newcomers who might become stars.

    • Help organize concerts, distribute leaflets. Find out about local bands that would like to perform in front of a large audience.
  • Cultivate your creative personality. In general, creativity is highly valued in emo culture. Drawing, music, poetry - actively express yourself and reveal the culture of emo in your works. Find a way to perfect your skills. Write a poem and set it to music. Write reviews and publish them on your music blog

    Anything can be found in life, and various representatives of youth subcultures are not the most surprising. But there are many strange things in their behavior:

    1. Why do they like the same clothes?
    2. What attracts them to the chosen movement?
    3. How do they live like this?

    Most often, these questions in our country are raised in relation to those who like the "emo" subculture. It is worth noting the fact that in our country this direction literally mutated and changed a lot compared to its original character. Many emos are not even aware of how far they are from the pioneers, and continue to live with false ideas about their movement.

    Where does the wind blow from?

    The previous century turned out to be rich in the discovery of fundamentally new cultures (although the phrases that everything new is well-forgotten old remain relevant). The etymology of the word "emo" is very simple and accessible even to a person with complete ignorance of foreign languages.

    emo subculture English language sounds like "emotional", which means "emotional" in translation. In sociology and cultural studies, this is a certain part public culture, which has fundamental differences from the prevailing one. In fact, this is a small world with its own values, demeanor, style and even language. Of course, it is worth noting the fact that such communities are distinguished by many basic factors, for example, national, demographic, professional or geographical.

    The emo subculture appeared as a reaction of society to the dullness and lack of ideas of the present. Every day, most people go to jobs they don't like, knowing they'll spend the whole day there, putting on a fake smile while being targeted by security cameras (which is pretty common these days). We hide our real emotions under a mask, forgetting that life is one, it will not work to repeat it. Real emotions are here real life. On the basis of this thought, a whole movement arises.

    From the history

    It is worth noting the achievement of the American sociologist David Reisman, who in his works defined groups of people similar in style and moral values ​​as subcultures. In turn, Dick Habdige wrote a book about subcultures and the meaning of style, telling his point of view on groups and deciding that the main motive for separation was dissatisfaction with generally accepted standards.

    The topic began to be studied by the Frenchman Michel Maffesoli, who called such youth movements urban tribes, but Viktor Dolnik was more delicate in his book writings and used the concept of "clubs". In the USSR, subcultures were informal associations, which were also called tusovka. This attitude is understandable, because the representatives of such movements differed from the general mass.

    Only three left major topics not affected by the organizers and ideological inspirers subcultures. It's prison, drugs and homosexuality. These areas are so specific in themselves that the division into factions within them does not attract others and does not cause a desire to join. The emo youth subculture arose on the basis of fans of one musical style, which was just distinguished by an abundance of expressed emotions.

    The main features of emo

    Their first and most important difference is their general worldview and attitude towards emotions: emo is not afraid to show himself real, opens his soul completely, and therefore remains in harmony with himself. Representatives of this trend love bright colors, but stereotypical thinking, according to which the only combination acceptable to them is black and pink, is wrong.

    The emo subculture stands for the brightness and richness of colors - this is the color of grass in spring, and bright sunlight(the more colors and shades, the better). Therefore, real emos are not at all those strange children in striped clothes, but simply people who stand out from the crowd, whose outfit you want to consider and, possibly, repeat. By the way, emo can be recognized by the question and the request to tell about the ideological component of the costume - they will not remain silent or avoid answering. In communication, they are as benevolent as possible, since they fundamentally do not believe in evil, they oppose injustice.

    It is possible that a representative of the emo culture will, on the contrary, be a depressive and easily injured person, since negative emotions too sharp for them. In their desire to tell grief, emo can go too far and then push people away from themselves. Stereotypes paint them as whiny and weak people, but the true representatives of the movement are quite different. The emo subculture is very deep and interesting to learn, but it requires the right approach and the desire to promote it to the masses.

    About music

    So, the basis for the emergence of this community was music that is somewhat reminiscent of punk rock and, strictly speaking, is its variety. At the same time, the value orientations of these trends are absolutely polar. Probably the most romantic and sensitive people in the world are united by the emo subculture. The history of the emergence of this movement eloquently focuses on romanticism, love sublimity and the emotionality of its adherents. Personal experiences are much more important to them than social events. At the same time, emo is completely devoid of aggression, which is so typical for hardcore.

    Music often makes emo also related to representatives of the gothic subculture, who are "very original" in choosing the colors of their outfits (they prefer completely black and maximally closed style, although there are exceptions to the rules). Emo often sing about rather sad things, for example, Paramore or Fall Out Boy, who perform songs with anguish, telling about the problems of life and the happiness of love. Now at the peak of popularity are groups singing in the style of emo revival, which include Empire! Empire!, Touche Amore and many others.

    About symbols

    How is the emo subculture different? Briefly, it can be judged by the clothes of the representatives: although the color may be variable, the style is always recognizable - tight jeans (regardless of gender), a large belt with the symbols of a vegan adherent. By the way, this movement is very popular among emo, and not everyone can be a vegan.

    Thus, emo protest against violence towards animals, many of them do not eat meat and animal products. Emo are very fond of comfortable shoes, namely, sneakers. Their image can be supplemented with spats, mittens, checkered scarves and multi-colored badges. The latter can be quite a lot, but still you need to know the measure.

    Image and make-up

    Even a guy who loves emo style is unlikely to do without some amount of cosmetics. But only a skilled will look stylish with her, not feminine. By the way, among emo there are not so many representatives of non-traditional orientation, as is commonly believed. A guy can remain masculine even while wearing the traditional emo hairstyle with tattered bangs. And many famous musical performers set an example for them, summing up their eyes with a black liner. It is easier for girls in this regard, because emos approve of a bright mech-up, funny hairpins and an abundance of hearts.

    Now emo culture is gaining momentum. It is quite possible that you have already happened to meet its representatives on the street, on the bus: strange girls with black hair, shiny hairpins on their heads and a ring in their lower lip and thin guys with bangs that cover half of their faces, in black and white sneakers and "postman" shoulder bag with a scattering of multi-colored badges and impromptu patches. These were emo kids, people who consider themselves adherents of emo culture.

    The emo subculture is non-aggressive, non-intellectual, with undeveloped social institutions.

    The specificity of the emo subculture lies in the fact that its characteristic semantics very accurately corresponds to those features of the psyche that are characteristic of adolescence. In the case of emo, a teenager gets the opportunity to explain, including to himself, some features of his emotional state, behavior, perception of the world, through belonging to this subculture. Subculture legalizes heightened emotionality, psychological disharmony, infantilism, hysterical reactions and conflict in a teenager. The ostentatious "childish" infantile behavior is also characteristic.

    The aesthetic forms of the emo subculture are broadcast through several main carriers. These include music with its hysterical-emotional and aggressive sound, combined with sentimental-tragic intonation. A very important conductor of aesthetic norms is the appearance and image of the participants in the subculture.

    The idealized norm of the emo subculture is bisexual relationships of all possible options: a girl, group sex. The most actively declared homoerotic friendly relations are boy-boy.

    Emo gather, as a rule, in parks. They don't drink blood, they don't hooligan, they don't scream, they just talk quietly and peacefully. However, they are forced to constantly change the place of meetings. Otherwise, they admit, it is dangerous. Perhaps because not everyone is used to often seeing a lot of sad young people who, according to all the laws of logic, should be cheerful, cheerful and energetic.

    You can relate to emo in different ways (however, in fact, it is so, no one remains indifferent). Some say that this subculture helps to "survive in our cold and cruel world", others consider emo hysterics and alarmists. Others think it's easy new fashion which will soon pass. But it is worth paying attention that there are more and more young people who, of their own free will, change their youthful enthusiasm for despondency. And this is already suggestive.

    Cons: The desire to experience bright and pure emotions and express them is the main rule for emo-kids. They are distinguished by: a thirst for self-expression, opposition to injustice, a special, sensitive attitude. Consequently, all this can lead to a nervous breakdown and problems later in life.

    Emo is immediately noticeable among those around them with a bright appearance, for a correct understanding of this, it is necessary to analyze the fashion trends of this youth trend.

    Emo fashion is closely related to punk fashion as well as goth fashion. According to almost all current trends, emo clothing is skinny jeans for men and women, long bangs, often combed to one side of the face, dyed black, straightened hair, tight T-shirts with rock band names, belts with studs, belts with badges, sneakers, or other black shoes - often old and battered - and thick black-rimmed glasses. Emo fashion has changed over time; early trends included haircuts similar to the old Romulans and Vulcans in Star Wars, tight-fitting sweaters, button-down shirts, and work jackets (often called gas station jackets). Now it is no longer in vogue.

    Emo kids stand out from the crowd with their bright appearance: thin, tall, with hard, straight, black hair (torn bangs covering half of the face, hair sticking out in different directions at the back). Girls can have children's, funny hairstyles - two small ponytails, bright hair clips - hearts on the sides. Both boys and girls can paint their lips to match their skin color, use a light foundation, the face looks pale, thickly blackened eyes look like a bright spot. The eyes are the mirror of the soul. Soul - emotions. Skinny jeans, possibly with holes or patches, a riveted belt with a chain or pink. Tight T-shirts with funny children's drawings, black with the names of emo bands, with crossed pistols (classic inscription: bang-bang) or with hearts torn to shreds on the chest. On the feet are sneakers or vances, on the hands are multi-colored bracelets, snaps or (snaps) of all colors of the rainbow are especially popular. On the neck are large bright beads or white pearls borrowed from my grandmother. Sweaters with v-neck, jackets with badges, olympics from the times of the USSR, a vest with rhombuses like a grandfather, long striped scarves, pierced tongue, lips, ears, nose, bridge of the nose. Often, emo kids make tunnels in their ears (these are such large holes (on average 12-16 mm)), into which they insert plugs (round earrings) or tunnels (bagels with a hole inside). Emo kids go with shoulder bags or backpacks, on which they hang a lot of badges, soft toys, and patches. some wear square glasses with transparent glasses in a black frame and striped spats on the arms (the most common are black and pink). On the nails - black polish (often shabby in boys and not on every nail), headphones in the ears (a common occurrence is emo kids listening to music). Emo-kids do not disdain clothes from second-hand stores, they say that you can often find there what is not in the most expensive boutiques.

    Our emotional response to color is incredibly strong. The eye perceives color, and instantly a process begins in the brain that responds to the peripheral nervous system.

    The color of the clothes is eloquent. Will you be aggressive if the service representative is dressed in all white or black? Would a doctor who preferred a bright orange tie be trusted? Which female professional would you choose as your financial advisor - the one in the navy blue suit or the one in the hot pink blouse?

    The colors of clothes can give us confidence, strength, or vice versa, create a feeling of awkwardness. There are no "bad" or "good" colors, it's just about the possibility of choosing the types of color communication.

    Let's take a closer look at the emo color scheme, recall that it is black and pink.

    They say that optimists look at the world "through rose-colored glasses." It is not surprising, therefore, that pink not only provokes friendliness, but also reduces malice and aggressiveness.

    The contemplation of pink dulls anger and physical strength so much that this color is actively used in correctional institutions and schools to difficult children in order to prevent antisocial behavior and reduce suicide attempts. In the same way, the football coaches of the host team order the visiting locker rooms to be painted pink in order to reduce their aggressiveness on the field.

    Pink color is passive, it calms and softens emotions, and this has been known since the 18th century, when it was believed that pink promotes digestion, and ash-pink came into fashion.

    The properties of pink are also evidenced by idioms - “pink dreams”, “life in pink”.

    If red speaks of passionate love, then pink is more of tenderness. That is why it is considered the color of femininity; pink underwear is chosen for newborn girls.

    Pink - the most passive of colors - provokes friendliness and reduces aggressiveness, both internal and external.

    The most feminine color, pink is associated with feeding and nurturing.

    Pink is calming and is believed to aid digestion.

    Hot pink, with a lot more red in it, is more energetic and fun.

    Men prefer pink tones yellowish tint.

    Undeniably, black is the most authoritarian and overwhelming color on the spectrum. It is associated with death and darkness, creating an unsettling feeling of the unknown. Black is the color of mystery. People fear that the world may disappear into a black hole, and if a black cat crosses the road, then expect trouble. The impression generated by the black color is endowed with great power.

    In the fashion world, black is truly ubiquitous.

    If the invitation to the reception indicates "black tie" (black tie), then this emphasizes the importance of the event and conveys the information that the costume should be strict, since the meeting will be official.

    Black is considered conservative and respectful.

    In heraldry, black is a symbol of grief.

    Black gives a sense of weight and depth. It seems to people that black figures weigh more than the same white figures.

    Emo turned out to be an interesting palette - a combination of calmness, romance and femininity with authoritarianism, conservatism and mystery. From such a combination, it is quite possible to fall into depression.

    The flow of emo specific external signs, a distinctive ideology, also has its own direction in music. This needs to be considered in more detail.

    Emo is a genre of rock music. Since its inception, emo has been used to describe several independent styles of music, loosely related but with a common ancestry. Also, the use of the term has been the subject of much debate.

    In its original incarnation, the term "emo" was used to describe a subgenre of hardcore punk music that first played in Washington DC in the mid-1980s. The term emo referred to the fact that, on occasion, members of this subculture can spontaneously become more emotional during the course of a performance. The most popular bands of that period were Rites of Spring, Embrace, One Last Wish, Beefeater, Gray Matter, Fire Party, and a little later Moss Icon. The first wave of emo popularity began to subside after the collapse of most musical groups in the early 1990s.

    Beginning in the mid-1990s, the emo term began to reflect the indie scene that followed the influences of Fugazi, which itself was an offshoot of the first wave of emo. The band, including Sunny Day Real Estate and Texas Is the Reason, promoted more of an indie emo rock style, more melodic and less chaotic in nature than its predecessor. The so-called "India emo" act survived until the late 1990s, as many of the bands either disbanded or changed styles.

    Since lagging indies emo band introduced a mainstream trend, newer bands began to emulate the newer style, creating a style of music that has now earned the moniker emo within popular culture. Whereas even in the past the name emo has been used to identify a wide variety of bands, the variety of bands listed under today's emo is even more extensive, using the term "emo" more as a definition than a specific genre of music. Emo also have their own musical groups: "Bullet for My Valentine", "Funeral For a Friend", "Yellowcard". Emo style differs from other musical styles in the abundance of screeching, crying, moaning, whispering, breaking into a scream. And the lyrics themselves are about unhappy love, injustice, about a cruel and full of violence world. Emo is different. Someone likes more melodic and calm songs, someone likes heavy, hysterical compositions more, it's more a matter of taste and preferences, so there's not much point in comparing one emo band with another. Everyone has different emotions, and they can be expressed in different ways. The most important thing is that they be sincere. The main components of any emo band: a soloist with strong voice, who knows how to take the highest notes, the frantic power of music, the most complex parts, impulsiveness, bursting membranes for a long scream (scream) - all this is emo.

    Thus, the emo subculture is very emotional, these are people who are able to violently express their emotions without being embarrassed by anyone. They have a very bright appearance, representatives of both sexes paint their nails and eyes, most often black, and pink also prevails in appearance. Emo kids are most often sad and may commit suicidal acts.

    social youth emo goth

    Surely you met on the streets big cities boys and girls, and even teenagers, dressed in strange black and pink clothes, with numerous piercings, with black, often dyed hair and long slanting bangs. They are called emo. Often these young people are confused with other subcultures (primarily with the Goths), they are ridiculed. And in some countries they are even persecuted. Many people unknowingly believe that emo is just a style of clothing: thick makeup, funny baubles on a patched shoulder bag.

    Others believe that these guys like to gather in cemeteries and read whining poems about death, that this is a phenomenon close to the decadence of the early twentieth century. There are those who identify these difficult teenagers as prime candidates for suicide. So who are emo? How did they originate, how do they differ from representatives of other related subcultures? Read all about them in this article.

    History of occurrence

    If you asked who emo people were in the 1980s, then most of the inhabitants of our planet would shrug their shoulders in bewilderment, and the inhabitants of the District of Columbia (USA) would answer you that they are fans of a certain musical style. Indeed, the spiritual ancestors of modern girls and boys with oblique bangs were called punks. They also listened to hard rock, adorned their bodies with tattoos and piercings, and were addicted to "strangleholds" on their necks. But emo-core, spun off from punk rock, was too idiosyncratic, specific. And the fans of these two styles professed different life principles, felt the world in a completely different way, in order to be different. And therefore, in the style of clothing, slender young men with black hair began to move away from pumped up, shaved to zero guys. A little later, they were isolated from the ready environment.

    attitude

    With the rise of a new subculture and its penetration into the countries of the Old World, many people became interested in who emo were. The main distinguishing feature of the adherents of this youth movement is expressiveness, a vivid and undisguised expression of their feelings. Therefore, among the masses, far from subcultures, there is an opinion that emo are whiny, unwilling to grow up, prone to depression and even suicide. Yes, they have a romanticization of death, however, just like the Goths. But what gave the name to the current is called not a thirst for suicide, but a desire to express emotions - no matter what, sad or cheerful. It's just that our world gives more reasons to cry than to laugh ... They call themselves emo-kids (from English words emotional and kid (child), thereby emphasizing their desire to remain childishly spontaneous, refusal to wear social masks that society imposes on people.

    Emo core music

    Of course, the subculture is determined by a certain ideology, lifestyle and attitude, but do not forget that it was born in the depths of music lovers. The first creators of emo-core were punks from Washington, who brought a certain harmony and musicality to the cacophony of the mainstream. In subsequent years, the musical style was influenced by such trends as grunge and Hindi rock. The lyrics of emo-core songs are distinguished by lyricism, and their performance - by excessive emotionality, expansiveness. Long ballads are mostly about heartbreak, longing and suffering. Singers should have a high and strong voice, capable of abruptly moving from a whisper to a squeal. The modern emo style in music has split into several currents. One of them is the classic "core", close to hard rock, but softened with lyrical notes. Vaolens (from violence, violence) is distinguished by cruel texts splashing out aggression. Emo-punk is not devoid of gaiety and self-irony. But screamo is hard to withstand for unprepared people, but this style also has its fans.

    Notable emo bands

    Many musical groups that are worshiped by emo all over the world disown belonging to this subculture or use in their work different styles. Leading in popularity in Russia german group Tokio Hotel. Her album "Room 483" received our platinum status. The musicians of "Fall Out Boy" call themselves pop-punks, although experts consider their work to be a classic emo style. The compositions of "30 Seconds To Mars" merged alternative, space and prog rock. Since the early 2000s, various emo groups have appeared in Russia as well. Monalisa is very popular. She appeared in Moscow in 2001 under the original name "The Day After Tomorrow", and six months later she gave her first solo concert. Also, you can not ignore the "Ocean of My Hope", whose album "What You Don't Know About" is very popular.

    Varieties in the subculture environment

    Emo is, first of all, a lifestyle. It is not necessary to dress in black and wear long bangs black wing to belong to this subculture. For example, true emo (from English tru - real), who consider themselves the true spokesmen of the views and life position of this youth trend, they dress in retro-style plaid clothes. They also listen to music only on vinyl records, reel and cassette recorders. "Real emo" do not smoke and do not drink alcohol, avoid drugs. The entire youth trend is characterized by vegetarianism and even veganism. New emo - with black hair, long bangs hanging down to the tip of the nose, wristbands and piercings - are very recognizable.

    Image

    A special feature of this subculture, which distinguishes it from the Goths, is clothing. An emo boy often wears a tight T-shirt and jeans in black or navy blue, with patches and holes. A bag is thrown over his shoulder, like a postman, where badges and emblems are thickly fastened. The emo girl is adorned with a black short skirt, from under which torn tights stick out. Attached to backpack or bag Plush Toys, with which the hostess rips open the bellies, and then sews them up with harsh threads. Representatives of both sexes are also given out by a belt - black or pink - with chains, a huge badge. T-shirts decorate either name musical groups, or very characteristic prints: broken hearts, crossed pistols, other cemetery paraphernalia. Wristbands, severe collars and piercings (on the left nostril, as well as lips, eyebrows and bridge of the nose) complete the look.

    Emo makeup

    Both girls and boys who adhere to this style apply white powder to their faces to emphasize the contrast with black hair. Lips are painted with flesh-colored lipstick. Their eyes are thickly lined with a dark pencil. Emo kids wear black nail polish. Everything in their appearance should speak of a grim rejection of this cruel world, about their own resentment and defenselessness. Emo makeup creates a certain image - a sweet, vulnerable child who you so want to protect. On a bloodless-pale face (this effect is achieved with a light foundation and white powder), eyes stand out. The upper eyelid is painted with a pencil, the lower one with eyeliner. Generously apply shadows and blend them. Mascara is passed through the eyelashes twice. Emo lipstick (as opposed to ready) should be light pastel colors.

    Hairstyle

    Representatives of this subculture are distinguished by a long oblique, completely covering one eye, bangs. Emo for haircuts turn to specialized salons, because it is required to thin the ends of the hair with a razor, to make the hair look like it is prickly. Owners of wavy curls should first align the strands with an iron. Emo hair is dyed black or dark red. Girls often wear a lot of accessories - bows, bright hairpins, elastic bands. They often wear the ends of their hair in ponytails or pigtails. With the help of varnish or wax, emo is fixed short hair on the top of the head so that they stand erect.

    Subculture in Russia

    How did they appear? Many music critics claim that Russian emos are "crazy punks". However, there are such creative teams who are trying to completely copy the classic western core. The fans themselves are trying to follow the emo fashion down to the smallest detail. Despite the lack of specialized clothing stores and especially shoes in most cities, boys and girls try to completely resemble their American and European "colleagues". Despite the obvious apathy of the representatives of this subculture, the Russian authorities do not particularly favor them. In 2008, the State Duma even considered the “Concept of State Intervention in spiritual education children." This bill indicated that it promotes suicide and cultivates depression. In Armenia in 2010, a wave of repressions swept over representatives of this youth movement. The authorities of the country expressed themselves in a very peculiar way on the topic of who emo are: they say that foreign influence spoils young people, and instead of being filled with a national-patriotic spirit, they resort to suicide attempts.

    Of all the youth subcultures, the most prominent and rapidly developing these days is the emo culture. Today, emo can be found everywhere - young people willingly follow the new fashion trend. However, it is a mistake to believe that emo is just fashion clothes And stylish jewelry. This is a whole complex of various things, concepts and behaviors. Emo themselves call their course a lifestyle. What is emo and where did it come from?

    The history of the emergence of the emo subculture

    Like most modern subcultures, emo originates in the USA. And it started with music. In the early 80s, the so-called "Washington hardcore" was still popular in the musical field - a mixture hard rock and punk rock. It was a very original sounding style, accompanied by a lot of noise and strong vocals. However, in 1983, the famous hardcore band Minor Threat broke up and fresh ideas the rest of the bands began to wane... The bands began to move away from the original sound of hardcore punk and experimented in various directions. The songs began to acquire melody, and the vocals became even more sensual.

    The first emo wave came in the summer of 1985, when several rock bands emerged in Washington DC with a melodic sound and new vocal elements. Most notable among them is Embrace, with Ian MacKaye, the former vocalist of Minor Threat, as the vocalist. Ayen became the founder of the sXe movement, which later became wildly popular among emo and hardcore players. The music of this group was called "Emo" ("Emo"), as an abbreviation for the word "Emotional" ("Emotional"). This emphasized the sensuality of the songs performed, the expression of the authors' emotions in them.

    Since 1986, many bands begin to focus on emo elements. Artists such as The Hated and Moss Icon, in addition to the speedy rhythm of the punk style, add vocals to their compositions, which breaks into a scream at the climax.

    Finally, since 1990, the emo style has become quite famous in musical circles and has become a separate subculture. New subspecies of this style begin to develop. Of these, the main ones can be distinguished:

    • "Hardcore San Diego" (San Diego, 1992) - a mixture of classic hardcore and emo;
    • “Screamo” is a heavier version of emo, more screaming and harder music;
    • "French Emocore" - a softened version of "screamo", is distinguished by melodiousness.
    Screamo and French Emocore are developing to this day. Emo became known to a wide range of young people in 1994, when the Sunny Day Real Estate group “Diary” debuted with their disc. New groups began to form, emo got on radio and television. Thus, a new subculture appeared, which is rapidly developing today.

    Of course, like all subcultures, emo has a specific style of clothing and appearance. This is the subject of self-expression and reveals to others the individuality of each emokid.

    Let's start with clothes. The universal emo outfit contains black and pink striped clothes. Checkered ornaments are very popular. In general, black clothing is a cult item for emos, it helps to strongly highlight the bright elements of their clothes - mainly pink and purple. Clothing with striped sleeves is highly valued. Clothing must be tight-fitting. Tight shirts, buttoned up with all buttons, will be in place here. T-shirts with children's drawings and the names of various emo groups are also fashionable. Often, slightly small jackets with a bunch of badges are used in clothes.

    For girls, striped stockings are relevant, usually in black and white or black and pink stripes. For guys, pants that are torn and narrowed down are useful. Black jeans will do. In the cold season, you can wrap your neck with a striped scarf. The so-called three-band belt is very fashionable - this is a double belt, consisting of one ordinary and the second with rivets - three iron strips, hence the name. Sneakers, especially black and pink ones, are definitely a must-have in an emokid's inventory.

    Black shoes with pink laces are also popular. Rough heavy black shoes will also come in handy. Girls usually wear large beads around their necks. Glasses are also fashionable, preferably black and horn-rimmed. Emo often carry all sorts of handbags and backpacks with an incredible amount of badges, patches, key chains and soft toys. On the hands sometimes there are bracelets or wristlets, supposedly hiding cuts in the veins.

    Now about the style and appearance. Black hair is vital. Moreover, radically black - this can only be achieved by staining. You can also use dark chestnut. The front of the hair should be cut so that the bangs cover half of the face. For both girls and boys, it is desirable that the hair be longer in front than in the back. Black hair should look greasy, greasy.

    In general, the hairstyle is often deliberately careless, disheveled. Individual strands of hair can be lightened to look orange. Emo also often paint their nails black. Eyes circled in black pencil, the use of cosmetics - foundation, lipstick to match skin color are very common. Moreover, this fashion is universal, both for boys and girls. This is done in order to make the face look pale, and thickly blackened eyes stand out against its background, which are a mirror of the soul, and therefore a manifestation of emotions.

    Very often, emos decorate their clothes with many badges, stickers, key rings and small soft toys. IN Lately the thinness of the emokid has also become fashionable, up to the state of "skin and bones." Much of this is helped by the vegetarian diet followed by sXe supporters. And any emokid will always be delighted with a homemade decoration, whether it be a beaded bracelet or a hand-tied cord.

    Here are the basic components of emo fashion. We note right away that the main thing here is not to overdo it with the appearance, otherwise you can be considered a poseur, and emo poseurs are hated. Clothing and jewelry should serve as a subject of self-expression, and not following the general fashion.


    Music was the ancestor of the emo subculture, so it has a special place in the soul of every true emokid. All emo bands can be divided into several genres, clearly distinguishable from each other.

    Moss Icon, Frail, Lincoln, Julia Silver Bearings, Hoover, Current, Indian Summer, Evergreen, Navio Forge, Still Life, Shotmaker, Policy of Three, Clikatat Ikatowi, the Hated, Sleepytime Trio, Noneleftstanding, Embassy belong to this style. , Maximillian Colby, Ordination of Aaron, Floodgate, Four Hundred Years, Shroomunion, early Unwound, Native Nod, Merel, etc.

    Starts in 1987-88. Sonically, there's a lot of dynamics here between soft vocals, glam guitars, and twin lead guitars rattling and screaming vocals. The style is quite intense - from normal singing to quiet parts to hysterical screams, and sometimes even sobs. Interesting features bands playing in the Emo direction can be called their non-commercial focus - basically, ticket and record prices only cover the costs of organizing concerts and recordings, and prejudice against digital technology - recordings are made using tube amplifiers and on magnetic tapes, as well as vinyl .

    These include: Rites of Spring, Embrace, Gray Matter, Ignition, Dag Nasty, Monsula, Fugazi, Fuel, Samiam, Jawbreaker, Hot Water Music, Elliot, Friction, Soulside, Early Lifetime, Split Lip/Chamberlain, Kerosene 454. this genre at the dawn of the birth of emo culture - in 1984-85.

    The main aspects of the sound of such bands are softer than in Emo, vocals - without much screaming and anguish, and the classic rock sound of music. The main role here is played by guitars - for the most part, paired.

    emohardcore

    Heroin, Antioch Arrow, Mohinder, Honeywell, Reach Out, early Portaits of Past, Assfactor 4, Second Story Window, End of the Line, Angel Hair, Swing Kids, Three Studies for a Crucifixion and so on. This is the latest emo genre, which started in 1990-1991. emo hardcore is hard not to recognize - this is a frantic rhythm, distorted guitar riffs, the screams of the vocalist at the limit of his voice. Music sometimes reaches such a level of noise that it is impossible to recognize the melody, and guitarists play flashes of noise and dissonance instead of chords. After each song of such a group, the team had to reconfigure all the equipment, and some even shattered into smithereens in the heat of the performance.

    These are the main directions of emo music. Of course, in fact, there are many more, but all stem from these three. From Russian emo bands, one can note 0 days of February, Ocean of my hope, Origami, Room, Maio, 3000 miles to paradise, Idea Fix, and the like. In general, emo is not alien to other music, mostly rock, but they do not like poser music, in particular pop.


    Every subculture has an ideological basis. It explains the essence of the existence of such a culture, defines its audience and sets a model of behavior. Unlike many other subcultures, emo culture claims a much larger role than just a collection of certain characteristics. emo is a lifestyle, a way of self-expression, an attempt to change the modern cruel world.

    So, what is the basis of emo culture? First of all, of course, in emotions. Emotions are an important part of the human personality. Emo do not hide their emotions, they fully reveal their essence to the world and enjoy the fullness of their sensations, not at all embarrassed by others. Sincerity is very important in expressing your feelings - emotions are often impossible to fake. The insincerity of any emo will feel a mile away. But it’s not enough just to express your feelings - you need to be able to present them in such a way that they fill the other person, let him feel what you feel. This is the essence of emo music.

    Teenagers who promote the culture of emo are called emokids, there is a division of emokids by gender - emoboy (boy) and emogirl (girl). These days, emo is mostly children and teenagers, as this ideology is most suitable for the windy younger generation. Emokid is often unstable in his feelings and emotions, he is subject to sharp mood swings and constantly protests against his parents and any other people who try to control him, forcing him to keep his feelings within the generally accepted framework. Emo hate restrictions - they promote the freedom of the mind.

    Each emokid is always open to others, he is happy to help his neighbor. emos are constantly evolving and tend to develop the people around them. They are not alien to the ideology of animal protection - many emo oppose the unjustified killing of animals. Another hallmark of emo is the disdain for commercial gain - emo bands often perform for money that only pays for the cost of organizing a concert. Emo also do not like to use modern technology and prefer to listen to music on old cassette players and vinyl. A separate page in the life of emo culture is occupied by the sXe (Straight Edge) movement. This is a movement that promotes healthy lifestyle life.

    Straightedgers do not smoke, drink, use drugs, or engage in promiscuity. They also actively oppose racism, sexism and other forms of discrimination based on any grounds.

    Stategers strive to expand their consciousness and constantly improve themselves. They are accustomed to always and in everything to go to the end. If you see a nickname on the Internet that contains an X in front of it, after it, or in the middle, for example X_emoboy, then you should know that the owner of this nickname is a straightedger.

    The modern sXe movement has split into two lines - the softline sXe and the hardline sXe. Hardline promotes strict adherence to the principles of the straight edge movement, the fight against discrimination and the protection of animals by any means, including violent and illegal. Unlike the hardline, the softline straight edge adheres to the rules of sXe without forcibly confronting discrimination. They prefer more humane methods of struggle, such as word of mouth, publishing literature, and organizing concerts.

    Just as every fascist has its own anti-fascist, so every emo has its own anti-emo. More precisely, true (true, real) emo. True emo hate poseurs and all those who, following the general fashion, dress like emo, but do not listen to their music and do not seek to express feelings. Such people usually join the emo crowd, trying to look fashionable, so true emo despise them and do not exclude the use of violence against them. Many people, trying to look emo, overdo it with clothing and expression of feelings, which immediately receives extreme disapproval of true emo. Many people confuse emo with goths. There is a huge difference between these two cultures. While the Goths express hatred for the whole world and disgust for a cruel life, they do not see anything good in it, the emokid takes all the best from life, can enjoy a wonderful moment or experience failure. The meaning of the emo movement lies in a higher emotionality, exposure to not only bad, but also good emotions.


    To date, emo culture has already gained momentum and continues to develop rapidly. Basically, emo are people not older than 25, that is, young people. However, of the entire mass of young people following the flow of emo, only a third follow its ideology and are aware of the origins of this culture. Most people who listen to emo bands are unaware that they are listening to third and fourth generation emo. For the most part, young people today are trying to be like emo rather than actually being them, which, of course, find discontent in the ranks of true emo. For many, a black and pink outfit and checkered sneakers is nothing more than just a fashionable outfit, while for emo it is a way of expressing themselves.

    We don't like emo in our society. Furthermore, they are constantly mocked and frankly hate them. Perhaps this comes from their unwillingness to keep their feelings within the bounds of morality, from the mixing of the sexes in this culture, because most emoboys look like girls, and many emogirls look like boys. Bisexuality is common in the emo environment, which is another reason not to like them. Emo is often beaten, mostly by punks, rockers, skinheads and other aggressive young people. However, despite this, most emo remain true to their ideals.

    If you decide to become emo, or rather, if you discovered it in yourself, then the materials in this article will help you get acquainted with all aspects of the life of emokids, their fashion and music. emo is a trend for those who do not want to put up with limited frames modern life, despises tightness and promotes open expression of feelings. Emo are not ashamed of their emotions - by and large, they do not care about public opinion, because they do not live for society, but for themselves and their loved ones.

    And now that you know who emo are, answer me just one question: would you like to become emo yourself, or maybe you would like your children to become emo?