Pump Up The Volume Analysis

1990’s Pump Up the Volume follows Mark Hunter, a shy student at his suburban Arizona high school that adopts the persona of outspoken pirate radio deejay ‘Happy Harry Hard-on’ by night. Although his broadcasts are an outlet for his own angst, he inspires his teen audience by demonstrating how to express their malcontentment: by distancing themselves from the previous generation though the use of language, and connecting with their peers by subverting the mold set by parents and adults.

Hard Harry’s vulgar language equally resonates with his listeners and outrage the authorities. In his analysis of the address term dude, Scott Kiesling remarks that, “Youth in general often engage in practices that are meant to express rebellion or at least

differentiate them in some way from older generations… Cool solidarity became a valuable nonconformist stance for youth in the 1980s… I would characterize this time—the Reagan years particularly—as one in which ‘yuppie consumerism’ and wealth accumulation were hegemonic.” For all their talk about “the system” and idealism about “the sixties,” Mark feels that his parents “sold out” and their generation’s efforts didn’t amount to much. Thus the sexually devious references that punctuate his vulgar diatribes serve to separate himself from the conservative norms of his environment and appeal directly to his audience, drawing the attention of the F.C.C.

in the second half of the film, which views his broadcasts as being closer to

"vandalism" than "free expression.” In effect, the F.C.C. functions to enforce their parents' values and sensibilities, and thus their attempt to control the flow of information becomes a rallying point, a manifestation of what the teens stand against. Even as the film closes with Mark's apprehension, news cameras capture the events and various imitation stations can be heard signing in, representing the wider acceptance of Hard Harry's message to “talk hard!” and speak obscene truth to power.

Hard Harry rallies his listeners to reject the societal patterns of identification that hold them apart. In her field study of Belten High School, Penelope Eckert identifies two oppositional attitudes held by students towards schooling: mainstream ‘Jocks,’ who “enthusiastically participate in, and receive sponsorship of, the school,” and non-mainstream ‘Burnouts,’ who “reject the hegemony of the school and in turn feel largely rejected of the school.” While the student body is largely homogeneous, coming from mostly affluent white families, nonconformists stick out, reflected in the way students are typecast about their involvement in the trouble surrounding the broadcasts. Mark’s father Brian is surprised that the student behind the broadcasts would go to “the best school in the district,” as is one student because “all the guys that go here are geeks.” Paige Woodward, the envy “model student” whose parents “can't figure out how [she manages] to get such great grades and [listen] to that radio all night,” microwaves her medals and accolades at the climax of Hard Harry’s tirade about acting up about problems instead of resorting to suicide, and becomes as much of a vocal supporter as Mazz, a character that is expelled as a result of the events in the film and stands in opposition to “yuppies.” Despite this, they differ in the way they go about defending their cause: Paige, a 'Jock,' attempts to hijack a PTA meeting, while Mazz, a
'Burnout,' resorts to various antics, such as vandalism and throwing smoke bombs.

Further, by broaching sensitive issues such as suicide and homosexuality, Hard Harry fosters an environment of understanding and reveals that his audience shares a universal discontent despite their differences, or as he puts it: “everyone is alike in some way… everyone needs the same things.” By showing a diverse group of students gathering outside the school to listen to the broadcast or tuning in from their rooms, the boundary between traditional subcultures is blurred and the jocks and burnouts of the student body are portrayed as united in the face of restricted autonomy.

Watching how the film's rebellion unfolds gives insight into the rebellious aspect of modern youth culture. The staying power of Hard Harry's message lies in showing how hidden struggle can be translated into meaningful action, meaning Pump Up the Volume will continue to have a message that resonates with modern audiences so long as the same problems

persist.