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.