Revision as of 03:28, 2 June 2007 editTheplanetsaturn (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users1,296 editsm rv← Previous edit | Revision as of 04:18, 2 June 2007 edit undoDaddy Kindsoul (talk | contribs)19,776 edits putting the pre-Cheeser1 version back, it has already been proven on the talk that this is not related to goth, and the article has progressed over the last few weeksNext edit → | ||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{pp-semi-template|small=yes}} | {{pp-semi-template|small=yes}} | ||
{{POV}} | |||
{{unbalanced}} | |||
{{unreliable}} | {{unreliable}} | ||
].]] | ].]] | ||
'''''Emo''''' is a slang term used to describe a counterculture; the term comes from the word "emotional". Emo is best known for its fashion style and attitude, which are said to have come from ]. Although the origin of emo music is difficult to pinpoint, it is suggested that it's a derivative of the punk scene which was popular in Washington DC in the late 80's<ref name="Origin of Emo">{{cite web | title=Origin of Emo | url="http://www.angelfire.com/emo/origin/" | accessdate=2007-05-23}}</ref>. The culture continued to develop through the 90's and into the new millennium, reaching the height of its popularity to date. | |||
'''Emo''' is a somewhat ambiguous, controversial ] term most frequently used to describe a fashion or subculture which is usually defined to have its roots in ] and ], as well as some attributes of ] and ].<ref name="knot magazine">{{cite web | last=Miller | first=Dan | date=], ] | title=In Defense of Emo | work=Knot Magazine | url=http://www.knotmag.com/?article=885 | accessdate=2007-03-11}}</ref><ref name="incendiary magazine">{{cite web | last=Ulfan | first=Gabriel | date=], ] | title=EMO: What is it? | work=Incendiary Magazine | url=http://www.incendiarymag.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=43 | accessdate=2007-03-11}}</ref> As an ], ''emo'' can describe ], ], or a general state of unhappiness (as in to "feel emo"). ''Emo'' is also used as a ], often pejoratively, to identify someone viewed as fitting a particular stereotype. | |||
==Music== | |||
{{main|Emo (music)}} | |||
The term ''emo'' originated in the ] to describe a ] stemming from the ] music scene in ] Early bands labeled ''emo'' (or sometimes ''emocore'') in this scene included ], ], and ].<ref name="incendiary magazine"/><ref name="about.com">{{cite web | last = Rubin | first = Joey | title = What Is Emo Music? A Genre Profile | work = ] | url = http://altmusic.about.com/od/genresstyles/p/emo.htm | accessdate = 2007-03-11}}</ref><ref name="fourfa.com history">{{cite web | last = Radin | first = Andy | title = History of the term emo | work = What the heck *is* emo, anyway? | url = http://www.fourfa.com/history.htm | accessdate = 2007-03-11}}</ref> The term ''emo'' as a music genre has become broader and broader with time, and now is loosely understood to mean "rock music with emotionally-based lyrics or effect," which could be used to describe a broadly and poorly defined group of nearly every popular (or unpopular) rock band. The term is so loosely defined because its definition is still the subject of debate. <ref name="knot magazine"/><ref name="incendiary magazine"/><ref name="about.com"/> ''Emo'' is now often used to refer to a person's fashion, personality, or both, as well as a musical category. | |||
==Fashion== | ==Fashion== | ||
] | |||
Very dark or black clothing, hair, makeup and jewelry is the most common trend in emo fashion. Other emo styles include: tight or skinny ] (also called cigarette pants or drainpipes pants) on males and females alike, as well as males often wearing females pants; tight ]s which often bear the name of a ]; studded belts and or belts with large buckles; shoes include ], skater shoes, or other black shoes, usually well worn in; ] bangs often brushed to one side of the face, and hair is usually dyed black and straight; thick, black ] are also worn. Some earlier trends in emo fashion which have lost popularity recently in deference to more punk-inspired fashions include ] clothing, such as fitted sweaters and button down shirts, as well as shopping at thrift stores and wearing second hand clothing. An early trend was haircuts similar to those worn by the ] and ] in ]<ref name="knot magazine"/><ref name="incendiary magazine"/><ref name="fourfa.com fashion tips">{{cite web | last=Radin | first=Andy | title=Emo fashion tips | work=What the heck *is* emo, anyway?From What I Think Emos Are So Adorable=] | url=http://www.fourfa.com/fashion.htm | accessdate=2007-03-11}}</ref><ref name="gurl magazine">{{cite web | first="Marni" | title=Label it. .. emo | work=gURL | publisher=iVillage Inc | url=http://www.gurl.com/findout/label/pages/0,,673303,00.html | accessdate=2007-05-23}}</ref><ref name="how to dress emo 2.0 girls">{{cite web | last=Dobi | first=Rob | date=] | title=Emo For Girls | url=http://www.dobi.nu/emo/girls.htm | accessdate=2007-03-11}}</ref><ref name="how to dress emo 2.0 boys">{{cite web | last=Dobi | first=Rob | date=] | title=Emo For Boys | url=http://www.dobi.nu/emo/boys.htm | accessdate=2007-03-11}}</ref> | |||
<gallery> | |||
Image:Emo hair.jpg|Typical male "emo hair": Long ] (bangs) brushed to one side | |||
Image:Emo.JPG|Caricature of stereotypical emo fashion | |||
Image:emo_beat_up_chuck_taylor_all_star_converse.jpg|Beaten up ] typical of emo fashion | |||
</gallery> | |||
==Personality== | ==Personality== | ||
The term emo comes from the word "emotional". "At its core, emo is all about being upfront with your emotions"<ref name="gurl magazine"/> and because the focus of emo music is "dealing with sadness and love and angst...also characterized by particularly dramatic vocals which, at best, left the audience in an emotionally charged state"<ref name="gurl magazine"/>. One common expression of "feeling emo" is writing poetry. Poetry addresses feelings such as ], ], ], ], ], being misunderstood, and feeling disconnected from the rest of the world. Some of the following are common themes in emo poetry: a highly emotional ], ], a simple (''ABAB'') or nonexistent ], references to the body, especially the ], heavy use of dark or depressing adjectives, and concern over the mutability of time, love or both. The cliché "life is pain" and similar variants are also common.<ref name="guide">{{cite web | last=Zafran | first=Wan | date=], ] | title=A Guide To Emo Culture | work=The Idiot Behind the Iron Mask | url=http://wanzafran.com/2006/i-am-an-emo-mutant-part-1/ | accessdate=2007-03-11}}</ref> | |||
==Criticism== | ==Criticism== | ||
] | |||
In the years since emo music's rise in popularity, both emo music and emo subculture have attracted sometimes severe criticism.<ref name="velvet">{{cite web | date=March 07, 2007 | title='Emo'-tional baggage | work=Whiskey & Notes | publisher=The Velvet Rope | url=http://weblog.signonsandiego.com/news/weblogs/nightlife/archives/008007.html | accessdate=2007-03-08}}</ref> The term ''emo'' itself is sometimes used ]ly, to suggest that the target is "overly emotional."<ref name="gurl magazine"/> Emo in general has been characterized as a ] which will be discarded and forgotten in the near future.<ref name="fairfield">{{cite web | last=Poretta | first=JP | date=March 03, 2007 | title=Cheer up Emo Kid, It's a Brand New Day | work=The Fairfield Mirror | url=http://media.www.fairfieldmirror.com/media/storage/paper148/news/2007/03/08/Entertainment/Cheer.Up.Emo.Kid.Its.A.Brand.New.Day-2762635.shtml | accessdate=2007-03-08}}</ref> Emo music has also been compared to the ] of 1990s ]s.<ref name="fairfield"/><ref name="badger">{{cite web | last=Ouzts | first=Emily | date=March 07, 2007 | title=The Higher’s ''On Fire'' lacks spark, plummets to lyrical lows | work=The Badger Herald | url=http://badgerherald.com/artsetc/2007/03/07/the_highers_on_fire_.php | accessdate=2007-03-08}}</ref> Critics cast the music as lacking any artistic merit, the fashion as "embarrassing" and members of the subculture as imagining or pretending that they lead harsh, painful lives when they actually live in comfortable, ] to ] homes.<ref name="fairfield"/> | In the years since emo music's rise in popularity, both emo music and emo subculture have attracted sometimes severe criticism.<ref name="velvet">{{cite web | date=March 07, 2007 | title='Emo'-tional baggage | work=Whiskey & Notes | publisher=The Velvet Rope | url=http://weblog.signonsandiego.com/news/weblogs/nightlife/archives/008007.html | accessdate=2007-03-08}}</ref> The term ''emo'' itself is sometimes used ]ly, to suggest that the target is "overly emotional."<ref name="gurl magazine"/> Emo in general has been characterized as a ] which will be discarded and forgotten in the near future.<ref name="fairfield">{{cite web | last=Poretta | first=JP | date=March 03, 2007 | title=Cheer up Emo Kid, It's a Brand New Day | work=The Fairfield Mirror | url=http://media.www.fairfieldmirror.com/media/storage/paper148/news/2007/03/08/Entertainment/Cheer.Up.Emo.Kid.Its.A.Brand.New.Day-2762635.shtml | accessdate=2007-03-08}}</ref> Emo music has also been compared to the ] of 1990s ]s.<ref name="fairfield"/><ref name="badger">{{cite web | last=Ouzts | first=Emily | date=March 07, 2007 | title=The Higher’s ''On Fire'' lacks spark, plummets to lyrical lows | work=The Badger Herald | url=http://badgerherald.com/artsetc/2007/03/07/the_highers_on_fire_.php | accessdate=2007-03-08}}</ref> Critics cast the music as lacking any artistic merit, the fashion as "embarrassing" and members of the subculture as imagining or pretending that they lead harsh, painful lives when they actually live in comfortable, ] to ] homes.<ref name="fairfield"/> Some feel emo culture is a psychological construct created to counterbalance guilt from an increasingly capitalistic society’s ills and parents’ ill-earned income.{{Fact|date=May 2007}} | ||
⚫ | Members of the emo subculture are portrayed by critics as ]tic |
||
⚫ | Some have accused emo subculture of celebrating ].<ref name="daily mail">{{cite web | last=Sands | first=Sarah | date=], ] | title=EMO cult warning for parents | work=] | url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=400953&in_page_id=1770 | accessdate=2007-03-11}}</ref> Some assert that it is '']'' within the emo subculture to pretend to be suicidal and |
||
⚫ | Members of the emo subculture are portrayed by critics as ]tic teenagers who pour their efforts into writing poetry and spending a great amount of time on ]. However, many members of the subculture may find such labels extremely offensive. Not all "emo" people are self destructive or extremely depressed. one may simply find the clothing interesting or may enjoy writing poetry.<ref name="velvet"/><ref name="fairfield"/><ref name="printz">{{cite web | last=Glasco | first=Bradley | date=March 06, 2007 | title=No one understands just what it is like being a emo kid in the South {{sic}} | url=http://media.www.studentprintz.com/media/storage/paper974/news/2007/03/06/Opinion/No.One.Understands.Just.What.It.Is.Like.Being.A.Emo.Kid.In.The.South-2758286.shtml | accessdate=2007-03-08}}</ref> The current emo subculture has been called a "sad caricature" of what it once was.<ref name="velvet"/> | ||
⚫ | Some have accused emo subculture of celebrating ].<ref name="daily mail">{{cite web | last=Sands | first=Sarah | date=], ] | title=EMO cult warning for parents | work=] | url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=400953&in_page_id=1770 | accessdate=2007-03-11}}</ref> Some assert that it is '']'' within the emo subculture to pretend to be suicidal and harm one's self.<ref name="fairfield"/> Critics have gone so far as to contend that the emo subculture or emo music are likely to cause youth to commit ].<ref name="daily mail"/><ref name="fairfield"/> This manifested itself particularly strongly in Australia, albeit over a brief time frame, following the suicide of two teenage girls in 2007. The girls, who expressed interest in emo culture, made a ] with one another, and possible clues of their intentions were later found on their band's MySpace page.<ref>See articles by, e.g.: ''Stuff'', '']'', ''American Chronicle'' and '']''.</ref> | ||
The backlash against emo music and subculture has become so prevalent that it may itself have become a ]: one commentator notes that "hating emo kids these days is as ] as emo itself."{{ |
The backlash against emo music and subculture has become so prevalent that it may itself have become a ]: one commentator notes that "hating emo kids these days is as ] as emo itself."<ref name="xkcd">{{cite web | last=Munroe | first=Randall | authorlink=Randall Munroe | work=] | title=Computational Linguists | url=http://xkcd.com/c114.html | accessdate=2007-04-09}}</ref> | ||
==Grammatical usage== | ==Grammatical usage== | ||
{{wiktionary|emo}} | {{wiktionary|emo}} | ||
The word ''emo'' |
The word ''emo'' is primarily used as an ].<ref name="gurl magazine"/> | ||
Adjective (1): ''All my friends are '''emo'''''.<br> | Adjective (1): ''All my friends are '''emo'''''.<br> | ||
Adjective (2): ''I feel '''emo''' today''.<br> | Adjective (2): ''I feel '''emo''' today''.<br> | ||
Noun: ''That person is |
Noun: ''That person is a total '''emo'''''.<br> | ||
==Footnotes and citations== | ==Footnotes and citations== | ||
Line 40: | Line 37: | ||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | |||
] | |||
] | ] | ||
] | ] |
Revision as of 04:18, 2 June 2007
The neutrality of this article is disputed. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please do not remove this message until conditions to do so are met. (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
This article may be unbalanced toward certain viewpoints. Please improve the article by adding information on neglected viewpoints, or discuss the issue on the talk page. |
Some of this article's listed sources may not be reliable. Please help improve this article by looking for better, more reliable sources. Unreliable citations may be challenged and removed. (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Emo is a slang term used to describe a counterculture; the term comes from the word "emotional". Emo is best known for its fashion style and attitude, which are said to have come from emo music. Although the origin of emo music is difficult to pinpoint, it is suggested that it's a derivative of the punk scene which was popular in Washington DC in the late 80's. The culture continued to develop through the 90's and into the new millennium, reaching the height of its popularity to date.
Fashion
Very dark or black clothing, hair, makeup and jewelry is the most common trend in emo fashion. Other emo styles include: tight or skinny jeans (also called cigarette pants or drainpipes pants) on males and females alike, as well as males often wearing females pants; tight t-shirts which often bear the name of a rock band; studded belts and or belts with large buckles; shoes include Chuck Taylor All-Stars, skater shoes, or other black shoes, usually well worn in; fringe bangs often brushed to one side of the face, and hair is usually dyed black and straight; thick, black horn-rimmed glasses are also worn. Some earlier trends in emo fashion which have lost popularity recently in deference to more punk-inspired fashions include preppy clothing, such as fitted sweaters and button down shirts, as well as shopping at thrift stores and wearing second hand clothing. An early trend was haircuts similar to those worn by the Romulans and Vulcans in Star Trek
Personality
The term emo comes from the word "emotional". "At its core, emo is all about being upfront with your emotions" and because the focus of emo music is "dealing with sadness and love and angst...also characterized by particularly dramatic vocals which, at best, left the audience in an emotionally charged state". One common expression of "feeling emo" is writing poetry. Poetry addresses feelings such as confusion, depression, loneliness, angst, anger, being misunderstood, and feeling disconnected from the rest of the world. Some of the following are common themes in emo poetry: a highly emotional tone, stream of consciousness writing, a simple (ABAB) or nonexistent rhyme scheme, references to the body, especially the heart, heavy use of dark or depressing adjectives, and concern over the mutability of time, love or both. The cliché "life is pain" and similar variants are also common.
Criticism
In the years since emo music's rise in popularity, both emo music and emo subculture have attracted sometimes severe criticism. The term emo itself is sometimes used pejoratively, to suggest that the target is "overly emotional." Emo in general has been characterized as a fad which will be discarded and forgotten in the near future. Emo music has also been compared to the teen pop of 1990s boy bands. Critics cast the music as lacking any artistic merit, the fashion as "embarrassing" and members of the subculture as imagining or pretending that they lead harsh, painful lives when they actually live in comfortable, upper- to middle class homes. Some feel emo culture is a psychological construct created to counterbalance guilt from an increasingly capitalistic society’s ills and parents’ ill-earned income.
Members of the emo subculture are portrayed by critics as melodramatic teenagers who pour their efforts into writing poetry and spending a great amount of time on MySpace. However, many members of the subculture may find such labels extremely offensive. Not all "emo" people are self destructive or extremely depressed. one may simply find the clothing interesting or may enjoy writing poetry. The current emo subculture has been called a "sad caricature" of what it once was.
Some have accused emo subculture of celebrating self-harm. Some assert that it is cool within the emo subculture to pretend to be suicidal and harm one's self. Critics have gone so far as to contend that the emo subculture or emo music are likely to cause youth to commit suicide. This manifested itself particularly strongly in Australia, albeit over a brief time frame, following the suicide of two teenage girls in 2007. The girls, who expressed interest in emo culture, made a suicide pact with one another, and possible clues of their intentions were later found on their band's MySpace page.
The backlash against emo music and subculture has become so prevalent that it may itself have become a cliché: one commentator notes that "hating emo kids these days is as hackneyed as emo itself."
Grammatical usage
The word emo is primarily used as an adjective.
Adjective (1): All my friends are emo.
Adjective (2): I feel emo today.
Noun: That person is a total emo.
Footnotes and citations
- . Retrieved 2007-05-23.
{{cite web}}
: Check|url=
value (help) - Cite error: The named reference
knot magazine
was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - Cite error: The named reference
incendiary magazine
was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - Radin, Andy. "Emo fashion tips". What the heck *is* emo, anyway?From What I Think Emos Are So Adorable=]. Retrieved 2007-03-11.
- ^ "Label it. .. emo". gURL. iVillage Inc. Retrieved 2007-05-23.
{{cite web}}
:|first=
missing|last=
(help) - Dobi, Rob (2005). "Emo For Girls". Retrieved 2007-03-11.
{{cite web}}
: Check date values in:|date=
(help) - Dobi, Rob (2005). "Emo For Boys". Retrieved 2007-03-11.
{{cite web}}
: Check date values in:|date=
(help) - Zafran, Wan (November 14, 2006). "A Guide To Emo Culture". The Idiot Behind the Iron Mask. Retrieved 2007-03-11.
{{cite web}}
: Check date values in:|date=
(help) - ^ "'Emo'-tional baggage". Whiskey & Notes. The Velvet Rope. March 07, 2007. Retrieved 2007-03-08.
{{cite web}}
: Check date values in:|date=
(help) - ^ Poretta, JP (March 03, 2007). "Cheer up Emo Kid, It's a Brand New Day". The Fairfield Mirror. Retrieved 2007-03-08.
{{cite web}}
: Check date values in:|date=
(help) - Ouzts, Emily (March 07, 2007). "The Higher's On Fire lacks spark, plummets to lyrical lows". The Badger Herald. Retrieved 2007-03-08.
{{cite web}}
: Check date values in:|date=
(help) - Glasco, Bradley (March 06, 2007). "No one understands just what it is like being a emo kid in the South [[[sic]]]". Retrieved 2007-03-08.
{{cite web}}
: Check date values in:|date=
(help); URL–wikilink conflict (help) - ^ Sands, Sarah (August 16, 2006). "EMO cult warning for parents". The Daily Mail. Retrieved 2007-03-11.
{{cite web}}
: Check date values in:|date=
(help) - See articles by, e.g.: Stuff, Daily Telegraph, American Chronicle and Today Tonight.
- Munroe, Randall. "Computational Linguists". xkcd. Retrieved 2007-04-09.