Post-Punk and Philosophy

“Post-Modern, Post-Truth, and yes—Post-Punk! Punk was at least an attitude, born of dashed optimism. So now what? Post-Optimism? Well, get a six-pack, after your holiday in the sun, and curl up with this book. Read it!!!”  —Theodore G. Ammon, Editor of David Bowie and Philosophy: Rebel Rebel (2016) “A welcome addition to the growing body of thoughtful writing on this thrilling musical moment. Framing its subject with a multitude of philosophical approaches including dialectics, aesthetics, and existentialism, this collection will spark a whole lot of debate on the meaning and value of Post-Punk.”  —David Wilkinson, PhD, author of Post-Punk, Politics, and Pleasure in Britain (2016) “This grand collection of essays has me revisiting every inch of a genre of music that many wrote off as hollow echoes of art and technology. What this book reveals is that it was art and technology born out of loss, loneliness, anxiety, and uncertainty, and I’m here for it.”  —Rob Hawthorn, co-host of the podcast, Deep Dives and Deep Cuts: Punk, Post-Punk, and New Wave 1976–1986 “Post-Punk is sometimes seen as Punk Rock’s more brainy offspring. From the Western philosophical tradition to feminist theory and global indigenous thought, the chapters in this exciting volume engage us in a bracingly original thought-experiment about the significance of popular music culture.”  —Gavin Butt, author of No Machos or Pop Stars (2022) “An exhilarating collection of chapters that delve into the multifaceted topic of Post-Punk and the philosophy contained therein. It draws upon insightful schools of thought, explored with great articulacy, focused on a time and place that I experienced personally. Could this be the definitive volume on the subject?”  —Mike Joyce, drummer for The Smiths