I was just pondering this question: I believe I listen to metal as I hold the essence of metal to be rebellion and non-conformity to the cookie cutter life and music of the masses. I know this is a rather basic question, but i was wondering if this is a rather universally held opinion? As I state this, I think of all the cookie cutter metal fans I know, that are anything but non-conformists.
Non-Conformity and Metal
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I just find it comic, all the "music" and even metal fans I know, whose interests are based on the culture and people around them , rather than on their own tastes and desires.
Rottuated
Live Free Or Die
My opinion, which goes beyond metal is that people want to be unique, but chances are that any style they're trying, has already been done before. People want a sense of identity. They want to feel like they're unique, and therefore special in some way. No one wants to be generic, but no one is inherently the same as someone else, so I think it's pointless to attempt being different.
Do what you feel like, so long as you know what you're doing stands for.
Do what you feel like, so long as you know what you're doing stands for.
BulletRider
Member
by not conforming and being part of a group of non-conformers, aren't you in yourself a conformer by that ideology? if you try to not conform, you are just in another group of people just like you.
yes this is the comic paradox of life, all of our likes, loves, tastes etc that we think are unique, are generally not.
However, I think that anyone that listens to metal, without really being part of a metal cliche, has to be a bit of a non-conformist. Hell I mean of all the people I know or meet, the fact that I regularly listen to death and doom metal is one hell of a big differance, that not one of them would ever admit for fear of seeming weird.
However, I think that anyone that listens to metal, without really being part of a metal cliche, has to be a bit of a non-conformist. Hell I mean of all the people I know or meet, the fact that I regularly listen to death and doom metal is one hell of a big differance, that not one of them would ever admit for fear of seeming weird.
lord667
=UM=Heartburn
It surely can't be a universal view. Think of "true" Black Metal or Manowar's crusade for "true" Metal. Striving for a "true" or "perfect" state necessarily involves a degree of conformity.
I actually don't think full-on nonconformity has ever been the soul of metal. Maybe certain personalities within the scene have promoted it, but from the days of "Black Sabbath" onwards it seems to have been a coherent and quite obviously rule-based underdog subculture.
I actually don't think full-on nonconformity has ever been the soul of metal. Maybe certain personalities within the scene have promoted it, but from the days of "Black Sabbath" onwards it seems to have been a coherent and quite obviously rule-based underdog subculture.
Life Sucks
and then you die
I dunno. It is true to some extent. I do not comform to many mainstream standards, but I do to others. I really don't think that you can generalize.
V.V.V.V.V.
Houses Ov Mercury
Shiny McShining Rodriguez
Pain: the gateway.
So you want to be different... In answer to your question, I think that yes, many people think along the same lines, and like you choose metal as their venue for being different. I personally believe the aim of being different is a futile one, and instead pursue the aim of accepting myself, and following my intuition rather than my ego.
That said, it isn't exactly easy to do.
That said, it isn't exactly easy to do.
no country for old wainds
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They're certainly very much linked. Black Metal opposes modern society and the mainstream viewpoint, therefore it is inherently anti-conformist. However, I personally don't listen to metal to feel unique or in some way 'different'.
BulletRider said:
I've always found this argument extremely silly. To use a musical example, it's like saying "if you don't fit into the genre of black metal, you fit into the genre of bands that aren't black metal." This may be true, but it's also totally meaningless, since there are so many different genres that aren't black metal. Likewise, there are a huge range of totally different people that aren't conformists.
AsModEe
also known as ass-mode
I don't know what's up with you people. I listen to metal only because I like the fucking music, fuck the image that goes with it. Hell, I don'T even have a band t-shirt, I don'T have long hair, etc. I only buy the cds and goes to the concert if there's one close to my city!
5thSeason
agent of brutality
Just be yourself. Dont like, or dislike something to impress or fit in with others. People who want to be different try all kinds of crazy things to set themselves apart from others, and call themselves non-conformists. Its bullshit, cause ina way they are conforming to that "different" crowd. As long as you are true to yourself, act, dress, and listen to whatever kind of music you truly enjoy, you are not a conformist.
If a kid wearing a Limp Bizkit shirt truly enjoys their music, and didnt buy the shirt to try and look cool, or because they are a big famous bad, or to impress others. If that kid really enjoys that band, and listens to them, and wears their shit because he honestly likes it, I dont consider him a conformist.
Here is a true example of a conformist... There is this kid in my town, I think hes a senior in high school now. I remember in my senior year he was a freshman, and he used to dress all nerdy and shit. After I was done with school, ive seen him around on the streets and in stores and shit, and Ive watched his transformation. He is attempting to be a phil anselmo clone. Apparently he studied all known pic's of the guy, bought all the clothes, and obscure metal shirts that he wears in pictures. Hes even gone so far as to sew black metal patches on his ratty green cargo pants like phil. He ALWAYS wears the same Dark Throne, or Venom shirt, and never changes his pants. He wears his hair, and beard like Phil, its SOOO stupid - if you are gonna pic someone to emulate, pick someone with TALENT, geeze.
Funny story about that kid. I was driving to work one day, and he was walking home from school with a couple other people. I got stopped at a red light, and I had my windows down. I was blasting Venom, and they walked by my car and he yelled "Whats that crap? You should listen to some real music... Metal. Who is that anyway?" I laughed and pointed at his Venom shirt and said "Its Venom...Phil". Thats what I call a coformist.
If a kid wearing a Limp Bizkit shirt truly enjoys their music, and didnt buy the shirt to try and look cool, or because they are a big famous bad, or to impress others. If that kid really enjoys that band, and listens to them, and wears their shit because he honestly likes it, I dont consider him a conformist.
Here is a true example of a conformist... There is this kid in my town, I think hes a senior in high school now. I remember in my senior year he was a freshman, and he used to dress all nerdy and shit. After I was done with school, ive seen him around on the streets and in stores and shit, and Ive watched his transformation. He is attempting to be a phil anselmo clone. Apparently he studied all known pic's of the guy, bought all the clothes, and obscure metal shirts that he wears in pictures. Hes even gone so far as to sew black metal patches on his ratty green cargo pants like phil. He ALWAYS wears the same Dark Throne, or Venom shirt, and never changes his pants. He wears his hair, and beard like Phil, its SOOO stupid - if you are gonna pic someone to emulate, pick someone with TALENT, geeze.
Funny story about that kid. I was driving to work one day, and he was walking home from school with a couple other people. I got stopped at a red light, and I had my windows down. I was blasting Venom, and they walked by my car and he yelled "Whats that crap? You should listen to some real music... Metal. Who is that anyway?" I laughed and pointed at his Venom shirt and said "Its Venom...Phil". Thats what I call a coformist.
J.
Old Fart
snow_like_ash
doooooooom meeeetaaaaalll
It is definitely a part of it, but we live in society where rebellion is considered a thing of youth. Youth is a time when one should use a fresh perspective to question and challenge the methods and ideas of the previous generation. But as I said, rebellion is now considered a thing of youth. Every young generation is supposed to rise up and rebel againt the social order, before "growing up" and "accepting reality". No one dares carry rebellion with them out of youth for fear of being thought "childish".
There is one group that relies upon youthful rebellion, and that is the group of international corporations that sell symbols of rebellion. Think: where does your money go when you buy that cd, that t shirt, that chain wallet, those massive black zipper pants? Right into the pockets of the people you claim to stand against. You keep their pockets full as they keep yours empty, trying to fit into the standards of individuality they set for you.
There is one group that relies upon youthful rebellion, and that is the group of international corporations that sell symbols of rebellion. Think: where does your money go when you buy that cd, that t shirt, that chain wallet, those massive black zipper pants? Right into the pockets of the people you claim to stand against. You keep their pockets full as they keep yours empty, trying to fit into the standards of individuality they set for you.
5thSeason
agent of brutality
thats what i said. just be yourself, like something because you like it, not to impress others, or fit in.
MetalHeadMarc
Dark Lord of the Sith
5thSeason said:
Amen to that one man.I got into metal with metallica because I was going through some rough shit with my family. I was angry at everything, society, myself, people in general and I idnetified myself with that. I need music that was as angry as I was. Now given I was always into hard rock as a kid being as my father was drummer in a former life (the 70's), I wanted the stuff with the heavy, and metal is fucking heavy. I remember the first time I heard motor breath, I shit my pants. I won't lie and say that I wasn't drawn to the "fuck you" attitude presented by rock'n roll in general, but overall it was something that I needed at the time. Every one is a conformist in their own ways. You have to look at coformity as not good or bad, rather it should be observed as something that either you should or shouldn't do for yourself. I don't drink alcohol. In our society its is acceptable to drink yet a choose not to. In this respect I am a non-conformist but I don't do it for the sake of non-conformity, I do it is because of my values and beliefs. I do believe that throwing your fist in the air for what you believe in is a fucking valid reason for non-conformity.
What I always found striking about alot of metal, being rebelious in nature, always take issues with God. Ultimately, total rebelion is rebelion against a higher power and what higher power than that of a creator, but if most of these bands are atheists why do the seek rebellion against something they shouldn't even accknowlege. It almost indirectly supports the existence of some kind of higher power does it not?
And while i'm ranting, what fuck is up with black metal. Dude, changing your name to hellhammer, comon, that's fucking rediculous. Its about the music, not dressing up in fucking clowns make up and ripping of Gene Simmons. I have hard time taking a band seriouselly that paints their faces.
5thSeason
agent of brutality
Ur not alone Marc, I dont drink either. Sure, Im 22, I can legally drink , but I dont. I dont drink because, 95% of it tastes like piss to me. I also dont drink because I dont want to spend money on something that will make me forget what happened the night before (whats the point of having a good time if u dont remember it), throw up, and wake up with a hangover. I only drink on occasion, whenever I hang out with bands, then ill have a corona or something.
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