Punk's Paradoxical Rules: The Battle Over Authenticity

The episode digs into how early punk scenes like CBGB, London, and Washington DC codified strict standards for what counts as ‘real’ punk—from sound and fashion to politics—and how that gatekeeping both unified and fractured the culture. It examines the tension between DIY scarcity and commercial ambitions, the role of fanzines, venues, and labels in enforcing authenticity, and why this struggle still shapes punk today.

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