Emo

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The following article contains and discusses content that may be distressing to some readers.
Reason for Warning: The criticism section discusses the misconception linking the Emo subculture to self-harm and suicide. It also mentions instances of violence against Emos. Some of this content may be disturbing to some readers. Reader discretion is advised.

Emo is a subculture and music genre that originated in the United States, evolving from Washington D.C.'s Hardcore Punk scene in the mid-1980s during an event known as the Revolution Summer, which also served as forerunner for another Punk subgenre known as Post-Hardcore. Among the earliest acts associated with this movement were Rites of Spring, Embrace, Moss Icon, Gray Matter, and One Last Wish.

Early participants were sometimes referred to as "Spock Rock" (in reference to Spock from Star Trek) due to their characteristic straight black hairstyles. The Emo subculture is characterized by its dark fashion style, which includes band t-shirts, skinny jeans, and hairstyles that typically cover part of the face. This look peaked in popularity in the 2000s thanks to forums and platforms such as MySpace. The meaning of "Emo" has evolved over the years, leading to varying definitions depending on the context and time period.

History[]

Emo first developed in the Washington, D.C., hardcore punk scene in the mid-1980s, emerging from the straight-edge movement as a term for fans and bands associated with the Emotional Hardcore / Emocore genre. The hardcore punk scene of the time was marked by a "tough guy" mentality, which led to the rise of a new wave of artists and fans during an event known as "Revolution Summer" in 1985. This movement was a response to increasing violence and reactionary sentiments at local shows. Bands in this emerging scene began distinguishing themselves not only through their rejection of violence and substance use but also by pushing musical boundaries. While their roots lay in hardcore, their sound evolved to include more melodic elements and introspective lyrics.

With the passing of time, the emo sound and movement evolved and merged with other styles and subcultures, giving rise to new musical genres and aesthetics that accompanied them, because of this, the history of emo music and subculture has traditionally been divided into 5 periods (or waves):

1st Wave- Emocore
2nd Wave - Midwest Emo
3rd Wave - Emo Pop / Mall Emo
4th Wave - Emo Revival
5th Wave- Experimental Emo / Midwest Emo / Emo Revival

Visuals[]

Emo often somewhat overlaps with other subcultures visually, such as Goth (much to the chagrin of the Goths, who absolutely detested the Emo Kids at the time of their rise in popularity, likely due to the confusion between the two scenes) and Scene, due to dealing with negative emotions as its major topic.

Obvious connotations to negativity and cynicism are a common theme in many of the visuals, and often reflected in the form of texts. Characters are usually looking a bit empty or spaced out, saying lurid things. Common motifs also include broken hearts, skulls, guns, splatters, and music notes.

Art[]

Another notable example of Emo visuals is the typical art style that they shared in common with the Scene subculture in the 2000s to early 2010s. The style is characterized by its often sketchy line art. This may be to mimic traditional pencil drawings, or to create a jagged, edgy feel to the artwork. The proportions of the characters were usually thin or stick figured bodies with caricature-like heads and large eyes, comparable to the likes of Tim Burton, Russel from Gorillaz, or the character L from Death Note. The large circular "blank" eyes are reminiscent of a particular "chibi" design style that was popular during the 2000s. Anime eyes and broader anime influence were also prevalent in the style. The overall appearance of the characters is heavily based on the popular trends of scene during its peak, meaning straightened opaque high-volume hair, black tees with splashes of bright colors, low waist bottoms, stripe pattern details, and sneakers.

Fashion[]

Outfits are dark and mainly consist out of band tees, skinny jeans, oversized hoodie jackets, and Converse or Vans shoes. Some of the more popular accessories are razor blade necklaces, rubber bracelets, stripe arm warmers and tights, as well as studded belts that often feature a check pattern. In the past, the most common places for people to shop were Hot Topic and Claire's, but since the rise of the internet among the mainstream, online shopping has become more popular.

Many members of this subculture will also spot various body mods, the most popular ones being stretched ear lobes, facial piercings, and tattoos. The hair is usually kept long regardless of gender and features side-swept bangs and choppy layers, usually dyed in a deep black color, occasionally with additional colorful sections or streaks. Black eyeliner is iconic for the makeup and sometimes enchanted further with a matching eyeshadow.

Music[]

As mentioned before, the history of emo is divided into 4 waves, each one of them (besides the 4th) being characterized by its own subgenre. While all these genres have their roots in the original sound of Hardcore, they all have elements that characterize and distinguish them from each other.

Emocore[]

Emocore is a style of Hardcore Punk that emerged in Washington, D.C., in 1985 as a response to the stagnant scene of the mentioned genre. It features melodic midtempo songs with harsh, fast, distorted guitars, dynamic melodies and emotional, most of the time screamed vocals.

Popular bands in Emocore include:

Rites of Spring
Moss Icon
Embrace
The Hated
Faith
Dag Nasty
Flowers of Discipline
Bad Dress Sense
One Last Wish
1000 Travels of Jawaharlal
Fine Before You Came
Don Martin Three

Midwest Emo[]

Main article: Midwest Emo

Midwest Emo is a fusion genre between Emo and Indie Rock that surged in the Midwestern United States during the 1990s. It combines de introspective vocals, lyricism and melodic elements of Emocore with the dynamics and eclecticism of Indie Rock aiming towards a softer and less-hardcore oriented sound.

Popular bands in Midwest Emo include:

Sunny Day Real Estate
The Newfound Interest in Connecticut
Modest Mouse
Cap'n Jazz
Jimmy Eat World
Mineral
Texas Is the Reason
Christie Front Drive
The Promise Ring
American Football
Empire! Empire! (I Was a Lonely Estate)
This Town Needs Guns
Midwest Pen Pals
Braid
Ghosts and Vodka

Screamo[]

Screamo (also referred to as skramz) is an aggressive subgenre of emocore that emerged in the early 1990s, associated with the 2nd wave of emo, emphasizing willfully experimental dissonance and dynamics. Screamo is strongly influenced by other complex and unconventional subgenres of rock like Noise Rock and Math Rock and is characterized by the use of screamed vocals, frequent tempo and rhythm changes, abrasive atmospheres, and guitar-focused melodicism.

Popular bands in Screamo include:

Bring Me the Horizon
Saetia
Portraits of Past
Circle Takes the Square
City of Caterpillar
Iconoclast
iwrotehaikusaboutcannibalisminyouryearbook (I.W.H.A.C.I.Y.Y.B.)
Old Gray
Off Minor
Pg. 99
Poison the Well
Saetia
Blessthefall
Alexisonfire
At the Drive-In
Story of the Year

Emo Pop[]

Main article: Teenpunk

Emo-pop is a genre that combines the sentimental songwriting of emo with more pop/mainstream aspects derived from pop-punk. Emo-pop features a music style with more concise songs and hook-filled choruses. It is characterized by its studio production and energetic sound, as well as by its alternative sensibility.

Popular bands in Emo Pop include:

My Chemical Romance
Fall Out Boy
Panic! at the Disco
Pierce the Veil
Sleeping With Sirens
Paramore
Manchester Orchestra
All Time Low
PXNDX
Motion City Soundtrack
The Used
Taking Back Sunday

Criticism[]

The Emo subculture has been subject to controversy several times in its history. One of the most prevalent arguments against it is the perceived link between the subculture and self-harm, suicidal behavior, or mental health issues such as depression. This association is generally regarded as a generalization, as not all members of the subculture are depressed or suicidal. The stereotype was primarily based on misinterpretations surrounding the emotional expression commonly found in Emo music and lyrics. However, it is true that in the 2000s, there were some pro-suicide websites trying to appeal to an Emo demographic, but they were not endorsed by the subculture. According to researchers, there is not enough evidence to confirm that certain musical preferences can make a teenager more vulnerable to suicidal ideation.^[1]

Emos have also faced discrimination, prejudice, and real-world violence in some parts of the world. In the 2000s and 2010s, there were reports of violence against Emos in countries like Iraq and Mexico. In 2012, a wave of violence targeted Emo teenagers in Iraq, particularly in Baghdad. These attacks were primarily perpetrated by paramilitary groups, and resulted in the deaths of numerous teenagers. Reports vary, but estimates range from 6 to as many as 70 people killed. The incident was caused due to the context of Iraqi politics; Emo culture was seen as a symbol of "Westernization." Misunderstandings also played a role, as they assumed that the Emo subculture promoted homosexuality or Satanism.