Although many people hear the words “emo culture” either in passing, on the news, or in dire-sounding reports on the television, very few people really know what it means. It’s not because the culture is particularly secretive, it’s just that, like many youth cultures of the past, a lot of people don’t get what it is really all about. This article serves to better explain what emo culture is, and why someone you know may be drawn to it.
It is common to hear emo culture described as extremely dark, full of people who are depressed and almost suicidal. Some news reports have gone so far as to make it sound like a cult, with fictional “emo points” that people earn for destructive or negative behavior. Sounds terrifying, no? Fortunately, it could not be further from the truth.
Emo culture is an offshoot of punk rock culture, much like other scenes that have formed since the late 1970s when punk first started. The music is varied, in sound, as bands such as Fall Out Boy are considered emo — despite being somewhat poppy, just as much as bands like Thursday or other “screamo” bands, with far more aggressive sounds, are. The main thing that unites this type of music is the emotional outpour from the singers and musicians, which many of the people listening to the music relate to.
It would be incorrect to state that people involved in emo culture do not feel some manner of alienation from their peers. This is why many people mistake them for being “depressed.” More often than not, thanks to the bond of the culture — meeting people who like the same music, dress similarly, and have a lot of the same feelings, can help to alleviate those feelings. Further, the culture’s epicenter, music and live shows, serves as an excellent place for people to get together. There is an amazing bonding experience for many emo fans when they are at a live show, packed in front of the stage, singing along to the songs with the band. That stays with people for some time to come; the memories of that moment when they weren’t different, but rather, were part of something.
Many articles and reports on this culture like to focus on negative things like “cutting.” Cutting absolutely does exist, but it is not an emo trait. It is actually a sign of a mental illness, most likely borderline personality disorder or bipolar disorder. It would be ridiculous to say that nobody involved with emo culture cuts themselves, or even more so, that nobody in the scene suffers from these mental illnesses. That said, there are many culture resources dedicated to helping people in the scene who have mental illnesses and problems such as this. One such non-profit group is To Write Love On Her Arms, although there are others, and many bands do their part to help benefit charities and other groups. Cutting is neither encouraged, nor condoned, within emo culture, and it is important to clear up that misconception.
Realistically, this is simply another subculture in the world where people who have like interests come together and bond over that. While it’s easy to look at people with “funny hair” or “weird clothes” and think they’re totally different or should be shunned, the truth is, they’re just people like everyone else, and as you can see, are just looking for a place to call their own.
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