Recently, I have seen a rise in Straight Edge lifestyle references, ie in books, Tv shows, and Movies.
For those of you who don't know what straight edge is... here is the wikipedia definition...
Straight Edge refers to a lifestyle and youth movement that started within the hardcore punk subculture whose adherents make a lifetime commitment to refrain from drinking alcohol, using tobacco products, and taking any recreational drugs. The term was coined by the 1980s hardcore punk band Minor Threat in the song "Straight Edge".
One false example of a sXe(straight edge- symbol for absteinence is an X) is in the popular horror movie Jennifer's Body, One of the characters(needy) is suposedly straight edge because she sports the symbol of an X on her hand...however, what most people dont realize is that symbol actually originated from bars and clubs where bands were playing. People couldnt distinguish between underage viewers of the band and legal adults. so they put an X on the hand of the under age people to help. This meant you would know who not to serve alcohol to. Nowadays though, its also the symbol for straight edge people, who abstain from drinking. In the movie Needy goes to see a band at a bar, and that is why she has the X symbol on her hand, she is not actually sXe.
Another reference is The Twilight Saga's Kriten Stewart wearing a Minor Threat T-shirt at the Comic-Con back in June. Stewart appears to be fully embracing her current role as Joan Jett in the biopic about the Runaways. She showed up to the event in her Jett hair and wearing a T-shirt that said "Minor Threat" on it.
But what is Minor Threat? Glad you asked. They were a short-lived hardcore punk band based out of Washington, D.C. The group was lead by Ian MacKaye, who later went on to form Fugazi, one of the most important and influential hardcore acts in punk's second wave. MacKaye was a punk's punk who believed that punk rock wasn't just a movement but an entire lifestyle. In fact, the Minor Threat song "Straight Edge" essentially invented the ethos of the same name, wherein punk fans forgo smoking, drinking and premarital sex for the sake keeping the mind sharp. Later in their bried career, they proved that hardcore didn't have to be just three chords and shouting, as tracks like "Salad Days" used acoustic guitars and ended up being one of the more definitive tracks of the era.
Though Minor Threat only released a single full-length album (along with three EPs), the group's influence remains strong. The label they established, Dischord, remains one of the most respected independent labels in the U.S., and has put out music by Fugazi, Scream, Rites of Spring and the Faith. MacKaye established Dischord and also produces dozens of other bands, while Lyle Preslar ran Caroline Records (which jumpstarted the careers of Peter Gabriel, Ben Folds and Smashing Pumpkins).
Stewart is clearly doing her research and embracing the era during which Jett became a force, so it'll be interesting to see what other shirts she rolls out. In the meantime, check out the Minor Threat back catalog (especially their self-titled EP, a blast of youthful aggression and razor-sharp execution).
In addition to this... Straight edge was never intended to become as popular as it is today, it was intended to be a small sect thing, to make sure it was unique and one of a kind...
Even one of the worlds leading straight edge bands - Have Heart (RIP:17/10/09) - have ended the band as a result of them becoming, in a sense, too popular...
Lets hope sXe lives on!
xx
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