Author: Ondrej Smigol

The GRAINES Summer School certainly opened my eyes on the new paradigm of networks and transnational history. Although aware that such subdisciplines of history exist and the methodology of networks is link to my research I knowledge about was quite limited. It was fascinating to learn about all the ways transnational history and networks can help find new approaches in history.

My own research involves the Punk movement in Britain in the seventies and eighties. I try to establish if there is any interaction between punks and the Conservative party and how they influenced each other. In 1975 the Punk movement took off in London and also Margaret Thatcher became the Leader of the Conservative party. I argue that both were reactions to the depression and problems of the seventies. The Punk an anarchist answer, Thatcherism conservative one. But the similarities do not end here. Both ideologies used the rhetoric of individuality, freedom of choice and selfmademanship. Therefore I argue, that there is a number of former punks, who after the got past their rebellion phase and settled down, voted Tory, as the Thacherist rhetoric was closer to their old thinking than Labour`s.

The study of networks can shed some light on this relationship. I hope that studying the links between members will reveal to what extent this theory is correct. It could show if there existed groups of libertarian punks vs anarchist punks. How big these groups were and how they interacted between each other. It could also reveal what percentage of punks liked just the music or the looks and did care or did not understand the adopted political ideologies.

London was the place where British punk started and was the hub of the punk network. Studying the interconnectivity between cities and scenes could also uncover differences in the punk movement. Were there tensions between punks of metropolitan London and of industrial Manchester? Between those from cities and countryside?

The GRAINES Summer School helped me to find a new approach to my research. It was a thoroughly positive experience. I learned many new things. I am proud I could attend.

My name is Ondřej Šmigol and I am currently studying modern history at Charles University in Prague. In my research I focus on the post-war British history, especially on the 1970s and 1980s. For my bachelor’s thesis I have written about the miners’ strike of 1984-5. Currently I am researching the punk movement and how it influenced the politics of the Thatcher era.

For my next project, I wanted to do something which was not a straightforward political history. I decided to investigate how punk was formed and grew after the Sex Pistols were founded in 1975, how the ideas of punk resonated in society and if they played any role in the national politics. I am testing my theory that the punk movement was not an absolute opposite of Thatcherism, but actually had a several similar viewpoints. Such as the reliance on the individual. This may have led some punks to vote for the Conservatives.

Especially the first part, founding of punk, is relevant to the study of networks, the theme of the summer school.  I have come to a conclusion British punk was created by a very small group of people, a band concentrated around 430 King’s Road shop. These people formed the punk ideas, sound of punk music and invented the punk look. They also managed the early punk groups. This entourage formed the nucleus of the punk movement. They inspired new punk bands, alternative punk centres in Manchester and Liverpool and attracted tens of thousands of fans.

The transnational aspect should not be overlooked. First true punk bands sprung up in the United States and inspired Malcolm McLaren, proprietor of the 430 King’s Road Shop, to recreate it in Britain. He and his associates created punk as it is understood today and in turn influenced the American scene.

For the summer school I would like to present my research, especially from the aspect of networks, as I have briefly outlined above. I would explore the problematics more deeply. It would focus on the creation of British punk and the people involved. It would also explore the relationship between the American and British scenes.

Key reading: Jon Savage, England’s Dreaming: Sex Pistols and Punk Rock, London 1991.

A seminal work on punk in the 1970s. It explores the various aspects of the punk movement. The personalities behind punk, the bands and their music, the politics and ideas of punk, the social aspects of punk, it is all in there. It is especially useful for the study of punk networks, as it describes all the various relationships of the protagonists.

Bibliography:

Dominic Sandbrook, Seasons in the Sun: The Battle for Britain 1974-1979, London 2013.

A superb book on the 1970s. It covers political, cultural, sport and social history.

Dick Hebdige, Subcultures: The Meaning of Style, London 1979.

An essential book for the study of subcultures.

John Robb, The North Will Rise Again, Manchester Music City 1977-1996, London 2010.

An oral history of the Manchester music scene, in 1970s the main British alternative to London scene.