Grunge Culture
Skaters. They are the typical representation of the grunge culture of the ‘90s. Extremely wide pants, pockets that go to the back of their knees, extravagant piercings, intricate tattoos, and twenty-fourth century hair dos are just part of the looks that these so called “grungy people” are made of. Or at least they were when the grunge phenomenon started. With the death of Kurt Cobain, lead singer of Nirvana, the grunge movement seems to have slowed down and even—as some say—disappeared from the main stream pop culture. As we all know, those commercial creations often come and go without us even noticing them. But grunge, I think, has moved to a different direction, one that can trick us into thinking it is gone. Grunge is still among our youngsters, and that is for sure; it is just not as noticeable as is used to be. But, what is exactly grunge and what direction is it taking?
First, let us define what grunge is and where it comes from. Grunge as defined by web encyclopedia alt.culture is the cumulative influences of punk and ‘70s heavy metal (plus rain, coffee, cheap, potent beer, and occasionally heroin), a cohort of Seattle bands developed a soulful hard rock variant that was instrumental to alternative music’s early-‘90s move underground (altculture. com). Among the bands included in the definition Nirvana would be mainly the one that made this phenomenon popular. Released in 1991, Nevermind—a record by an obscure band working in a genre considered as hopelessly uncommercial—launched the grunge phenomenon and marked an era of unprecedented exposure for alternative acts. Then other bands like Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, Soundgarden, Candlebox followed the trail that Nirvana started in the grunge w...
... middle of paper ...
...congregations of grunge believers. This is where the most amateur alternative bands debut and discover their little local fame. Obviously, most of them don’t make it to the top. Our society is still very commercially oriented and the grunge phenomenon is not as large as to promote all but very few bands to be the representatives of the movement.
So, go ahead; open your eyes and discover that grunge is not gone as it seems, it is still among us. Even though it may be wearing new costumes or listening to a different style of music, it is still the same. It is that counter-current movement that kids of new generations want to embrace as their liberty flag. It is that non-conformist dilemma, the spark that lights the fire of those who believe that mainstream society is not the only one. Grunge is still around, maybe not as popular as before, but stronger than ever.
In closing, the undoubtable influence of music, more specifically of Rock ‘n’ Roll on American society is responsible for a number of changes to the status quo. These range from sexual liberation and racial desegregation all culminating with other influences to create an intergenerational identity. Despite the desperate attempts of older generations to smother these influences, these changes ultimately shaped the years that followed, molding the country into what it is today. Along the way these changes as well as individual involvement in them has also eased the lives of many through empowerment and a feeling of community and purpose. Despite a lull and renewal Rock ‘n’ Roll continues to serve as an agent of influence and change in today’s youth culture and continues to burn in the heart of past generations of loyal fans.
There possibly isn't an album in history that is as genre defining as Nirvana's Nevermind. Released in 1991, it single handedly was responsible for the birth of what became to be known as grunge and has gone on to sell over 10 million copies in the United States alone (Stuessy, Joe). It reached number 1 in 1991 and was the first album to bring Seattle grunge to the mainstream audience (Stuessy, Joe). Nevermind is a mix of slow, dark songs and fast paced grunge rock songs. With its grinding guitars, pounding drums, and lead singer, Kurt Cobain's distinctive voice, Nevermind found a distinctive way to fuse alternative punk with 70's rock (Nirvana, Nevermind).
Underground rock was a term for a style of music that was different from the popular sounds of British rock bands such as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. During the Golden Age of rock music which lasted from 1962 to the late 1970s, several distinct subgenres of rock music emerged- folk rock, blues rock, country rock, and garage rock. Garage rock became the basis for underground rock, and although it was not commercially successful, it would become the base for the punk rock movement. The underground rock scene started in 1965 as a reaction to the social and political injustices of the time period. Resentment of American involvement in the Vietnam War and the African American civil rights movement created an angry and rebellious youth culture. At the same time, America was impaired by high unemployment rates and increasing poverty levels. Music from the underground scene reflected the way the youth felt about the state of the world....
The EEOC has also stated that a victim of sexual harassment need not say anything to any supervisor. Co-workers and supervisors are liable if any one kn...
During the sixties Americans saw the rise of the counterculture. The counterculture, which was a group of movements focused on achieving personal and cultural liberation, was embraced by the decade’s young Americans. Because many Americans were members of the different movements in the counterculture, the counterculture influenced American society. As a result of the achievements the counterculture movements made, the United States in the 1960s became a more open, more tolerant, and freer country.
What comes to mind when you think of sexual harassment? Most people picture an individual grabbing another individual unwillingly in attempt of committing nonconsensual sex. However, sexual harassment can be something as insignificant as being called something negative. It is anything that makes a person feel uncomfortable about his/her sexuality. According to the law, sexual harassment is anything from unwelcome sexual advances and requests for sexual favors to verbal statements of a sexual nature. It violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Sexual Harassment Policy, which is currently in place in all schools and work places, is aimed at providing an educational and work environment free of harassment. This includes sexual harassment and every form of intimidation or exploitation.
According to Webster’s online dictionary, it is believed that the phrase “sexual harassment” was coined at Cornell University in 1974 ("Sexual harassment," 2011). The phrase wasn’t, however, really used in common language until the testimony of Anita Hill against Clarence Thomas in 1991. Sexual harassment can take many different shapes and forms. According to a Fox News article, the sexual harassment claims made by men have increased twofold in the last twenty years ("Sexual harassment claims," 2010). Because sexual harassment is illegal both on a federal and state level in many states, there are steps that an individual and employer should take to prevent sexual harassment.
Perhaps the greatest association of alternative rock is the underground music scene, which can be described as an ideological concept where commercialization and legal contracts are non-existent, and mainstream coverage is severely lacking if present. Simply performing somewhere low key with these traits can label the performers as underground music artists. Groups that were truly categorized as alternative rock began performing in the scene at these low key venues and any fame and popularity gained generally stayed within the underground music scene. Popular acts could inevitably receive outside media coverage and be approached by companies in the music industry with a legally binding contract, but does that break their categorization as an alternative rock group? Or does the simple humble beginnings in the underground music scene fulfill that criteria of definition?
Eliza G.C. Collins and Timothy B. Blodgett. "Sexual Harassment…Some See It…Some Won’t" Harvard Business Review, March 1981. Web. 6 June 2015.
“In 2011, there were 11,364 complaints of sexual harassment made to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: 84 percent filed by women and 16 percent filed by men” (aauw.org). Sexual harassment in the workplace is very serious and is unacceptable at all places of employment throughout the US. Individuals should be able to show up to work without the fear of an individual sexually harassing them. “Sexual harassment of men does occur, though there is less information about the problem because men are less likely to report the behavior.” (workharassment.net). Aside from sexual harassment are workplace relationships. There are good workplace relationships, and there are bad workplace relationships. How can victims of sexual harassment in their workplace put a stop to the inappropriate behavior? What is classified as a good workplace relationship, and a bad one? In my paper I will discuss sexual harassment in the workplace, and what one can do when they feel they are being harassed. Also, I will discuss the good and the bad of workplace relationships.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, defines sexual harassment as a behavior of a sexual nature that affects an individual’s terms of employment or creates a hostile and intimidating work environment. According to the EEOC, it is “unlawful to harass a person, an applicant, or employee because of that person’s sex.” (Sexual Harassment) The term “sexual harassment” can be a bit misleading as other forms of work related harassment can take place that have nothing to do with ‘sex’ but do however, fall under the same umbrella. We will look to identify the different types of sexual harassment in the workplace, specifically, ‘Quid Pro Quo’ and what it’s like to work in a ‘Hostile Work Environment’. This paper will focus on the law, woman’s rights in the workplace, and discuss an example from the Supreme Court Case of: Meritor Savings Bank, FSB v. Vinson, 477 U.S. 57 (1986).
Antecol, H., & Cobb-Clark, D. (2003). Does Sexual Harassment Training change Attitudes? A View from the Federal Level. Social Science Quarterly, 826-842.
In our society sexual harassment has been in the workplace for years. The use of sexual harassment in the workplace has been remembered best as a weapon used to keep women in their place which would cause them to forfeit promotions within their organizations. It was once believed that women were the only victims but the shift is now changing men are also reporting that they are also victims of sexual harassment on the job. In 1964 the Civil Rights Act was passed and employers began to recognize that they were liable for two types of sexual harassment. The first kind of harassment is Quid pro quo when a supervisor offers the employee sexual advances in order to get or keep a job, and also this harassment is used to determined if an individual will get a promotion. The second form of harassment is when supervisors or coworkers make working conditions hostile and unbearable. In both instances the legal ramification will cost an organization to suffer a financial loss in productivity, time, and money. Throughout this research my finding is that it's to the company's best interest to provide a clear policy on sexual harassment.
Every public and private employer in the State of California (except the federal government and religious, non-profit corporations or associations) is subject to the California Fair Employment and Housing Act’s (FEHA), which prohibits against sexual harassment in the workplace. Individual supervisors, managers and non-supervisory employees are individually subject to the FEHA’s anti-harassment provisions. The goal of the FEHA is to familiarize supervisors and managers with their responsibilities under California law for responding to, and preventing, sexual harassment. Although federal law imposes similar duties as those required by the FEHA, there are some important differences that will be highlighted in my paper.
In today’s workplace, sexual harassment is a growing problem. The legal definition of sexual harassment is any unwelcome sexual advance or conduct on the job that creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive working environment. Another definition is the making of unwanted and offensive sexual advances or of sexually offensive remarks or acts, especially by one in a superior or supervisory position. Women and men of all ages, backgrounds, races and experience are harassed on the job. Sexual harassment encountered in workplaces is a hazard across the world that reduces the quality of working life, jeopardizes the well-being of women and men, undermines gender equality and imposes costs on firms and organizations.