Date of Award
Spring 2022
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
Historical & Political Studies; College of Arts & Sciences
First Advisor
Geoffrey Haywood
Abstract
This thesis explores the UK post-punk movement, looking at how the movement emerged within the political and social climate of 1970s and early 1980s Britain and the key characteristics of the genre. I also provide a deeper exploration of the movement through a case study of Joy Division. The central questions within my research are: What was the social and political climate of Britain during the 1970s and 1980s? How did this influence the emergence of the post-punk movement? What are the complexities and nuances of Joy Division and its place in the Manchester music scene? How do these earn the band the title of post-punk vanguard? While there are many scholarly articles, there are very few book-length explorations discussing post-punk. In terms of scholarship related to Joy Division, there is a plethora of sources ranging from scholarly articles to memoirs. The arguments made within this scholarship largely center around the different methods of understanding the band. To conduct this research, I referenced first-hand accounts from memoirs and documentaries as well as books, scholarly articles, and more surrounding the topic. My project is structured into three chapters. The first chapter explores the emergence of post-punk, a literature review, and discusses the key characteristics of the movement. The second chapter places my research within its historical context and the third chapter is a case study of Joy Division. I ultimately argue that post-punk was both a continuation of punk and an entirely new movement emerging at a time of great turmoil. I also argue that Joy Division can be viewed and understood as both a representation of place, the product of outside parties, and uniquely personal psychology. The significance of this research lies in the lessons shared regarding the influence of music and how musical movements come to fruition, as well in the contributions it makes to scholarship related to Joy Division.
Recommended Citation
Wingfield, Emily, "Left to Blind Destruction: An Exploration of Post-punk Britain Through the Lens of Manchester's Own Joy Division (1973-1980)" (2022). Capstone Showcase. 1.
https://scholarworks.arcadia.edu/showcase/2022/history/1
Left to Blind Destruction: An Exploration of Post-punk Britain Through the Lens of Manchester's Own Joy Division (1973-1980)
This thesis explores the UK post-punk movement, looking at how the movement emerged within the political and social climate of 1970s and early 1980s Britain and the key characteristics of the genre. I also provide a deeper exploration of the movement through a case study of Joy Division. The central questions within my research are: What was the social and political climate of Britain during the 1970s and 1980s? How did this influence the emergence of the post-punk movement? What are the complexities and nuances of Joy Division and its place in the Manchester music scene? How do these earn the band the title of post-punk vanguard? While there are many scholarly articles, there are very few book-length explorations discussing post-punk. In terms of scholarship related to Joy Division, there is a plethora of sources ranging from scholarly articles to memoirs. The arguments made within this scholarship largely center around the different methods of understanding the band. To conduct this research, I referenced first-hand accounts from memoirs and documentaries as well as books, scholarly articles, and more surrounding the topic. My project is structured into three chapters. The first chapter explores the emergence of post-punk, a literature review, and discusses the key characteristics of the movement. The second chapter places my research within its historical context and the third chapter is a case study of Joy Division. I ultimately argue that post-punk was both a continuation of punk and an entirely new movement emerging at a time of great turmoil. I also argue that Joy Division can be viewed and understood as both a representation of place, the product of outside parties, and uniquely personal psychology. The significance of this research lies in the lessons shared regarding the influence of music and how musical movements come to fruition, as well in the contributions it makes to scholarship related to Joy Division.