Emo (slang) - Misplaced Pages

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Emo is a somewhat ambiguous, controversial slang term most frequently used to describe a fashion or subculture which is usually defined to have roots in punk fashion and subculture, as well as some attributes of gothic fashion and subculture.. It is loosely defined, and its meaning varies by region, but most definitions share a number of similarities.

History in music

Main article: Emo (music)

1980s

Emo was not always used as slang referring to a subculture. The term was born in the 1980s to describe a genre of music stemming from the hardcore punk music scene in Washington, D.C. Early bands labeled emo (or sometimes emocore) in this scene included Rites of Spring, Embrace, and Fugazi.

1990s to present

The word has more recently been used to describe a subculture as a slang term, but still describes a music genre as well. 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." Bands included in the genre range from Bright Eyes to The Get Up Kids to Sunny Day Real Estate. The term is so loosely defined because its definition is still the subject of debate. Emo now often refers to a person's fashion, personality, or both, as well as the music genre.

Fashion

Emo fashion is usually defined to have roots in punk fashion as well as gothic fashion. By almost all current definitions, emo clothing is characterized by tight jeans on males and females alike, long bangs often brushed to one side of the face, dyed black hair, tight t-shirts (often bearing the names of emo bands), studded belts, belt buckles, Chuck Taylor All-Stars or other black shoes (often old and beaten up), and thick, black-rimmed glasses. In the satirical video, How to Be: Emo, the main character, Billy, is told that he should purchase his new emo attire from the local thrift store, and that "the smell of old is the smell of emo gold."

Typical male "emo hair": Long bangs brushed over one eye with short hair in the back
Caricature of stereotypical emo fashion
Don't Be Emo: Stereotypical emo fashion
Beaten up Chuck Taylor All-Stars typical of emo fashion

Past emo trends

Emo fashion has changed with time; early trends included haircuts similar to those worn by the Romulans and Vulcans in Star Trek, tightly fitting sweaters, button-down shirts, and work jackets (often called gas station jackets). These trends are not as popular in the emo scene anymore.

Personality

When referring to a person's personality and attitude, most definitions of emo hold that an "emo person" is candid about their emotions, sensitive, shy, introverted, broken-hearted, glum, and often quiet.

Self-harm and emo

Some definitions of emo hold that a typical "emo person" is likely to inflict self-injury, most often by means of cutting, burning, or otherwise mutilating themself.

Grammar

As a slang word, "emo" is not defined by standard English dictionaries, and thus, its grammatical usage is not either. In popular usage, it can be used as either a noun or adjective.

Examples of usage

Adjective (1): All my friends are emo.
Adjective (2): I feel emo today.
Noun: Sally is such an emo.

References in popular culture

The popular VOIP client Skype comes standard with an "emo" emoticon which has black hair and long bangs.

Footnotes and citations

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