Historically, punks hated "jocks" in part because they represented the norm, and in part for their role in our own teenage nightmares. But what, if anything, did we throw out with the jock bathwater?
This topic is actually very complex and could use a very long or multiple essays.
I think it's important to separate out jock/jocks mindset/jock culture from exercise/sports.
The real issue is jock mindset/jock culture. Obviously separating that from sports and exercise can be tricky but in simplistic terms the issues many of us had and likely still have is with the jock mindset/culture. This to me even infected some of the 90's hardcore and I contend even helped create emocore/emo as a way to further distance oneself from this way of thinking.
I think the emphasis on intellectual activities is important as the typical jock mindset is anti-intellectual. They are also very much for the status quo and conformity which should be the antithesis of punk.
So sports and maybe move importantly exceercize and working on one's physical body is a great thing. We should all probably do more of it for all the reasons you list. But we can do so without accepting or embracing the jock mindset/jock culture. I've personally never enjoyed it and think on the whole it's toxic. And to be clear, yes I've played organized sports both in school (thru college) and as an adult. I never enjoyed spending time with any of these people other than within the sport activity.
You could write an entire essay on this mindset and it's impact on violence, misogyny and homophobia in hardcore as well. Some perpetrated by "jocks" some by those "in the scene " but in the end there way of being was/is quite similar. This was not only with the fans but with some bands as well. It's for me the major reason I stopped listening to HC and moved away from the scene and why I prefer "emocore"/screamo/emo to most straight up older HC. Thankfully the majority of the new breed of HC bands are much more emotional and a whole lot less angry and attracted to violence for the sake of violence. Plus with so many female voices in the scene now there is a whole new perspective Thankfully.
Thanks for all you do for the community and us fans of your music and writing.
"...as it turns out, like Rollins, I actually have had moments of self-realization at the gym."
Same. No doubt. Though I was the punk playing lacrosse in my large hardcore high school scene (we were about 30 strong), we all laughed it off together. Later, myself and so many of my longtime and still dedicated straight edge peers got into cardio—namely running and cycling—as adults.
I have to comment because this is a big deal for me. I really honestly do hate jocks. To me Henry Rollins is the LAST person I would call a jock. I never thought being a jock had anything to do with how physically oriented you were. To me jocks were first and foremost disgustingly MALE. I also hate just as much the cheerleader culture that went lockstep one pace behind the jock culture. To me it was like the uptime humiliation of femininity.
Someone who works out, is healthy, is physically in touch with their body, even someone who might play or even (maybe, lol) just like sports is by no means a JOCK.
I don’t know if I articulated but at least this is good for thought and an attempt to express my view on the matter. I honestly think jock culture is more inherently and inexorably diametric to punk than organized religion is.
My friends and I definitely got our share of shit from jocks in high school, but...I didn't so much think of it in terms of sports as I did what would eventually get called toxic masculinity. I didn't get into sports, and that certainly got me my share of side-eye, but I had a friend who played on our high school football team *and* went to punk shows, and I lifted weights for awhile. So when straight-edge started taking more and more from athletics, it wasn't so much sports per se that bugged me about it as it was bands who looked a lot like the kind of guys who started shit with me and my friends. Like Kevin Seconds said, what we've got is strength.
Like James, I've enjoyed playing sports and active competition since I was a kid, but was always put off by jock mentalities. It was hard to find punks to do that stuff with, so I was thrilled when I stepped out back of a show at the Chatham Church in 1995 (maybe it was the Fieldsboro American Legion) to find a pickup soccer game going on. I didn't know anyone playing, but they welcomed me into the game. I remember Zoli and Martin DC joined in. It's one of my favorite memories of going to hc shows.
I played on club teams until my mid-30s when kids came along and found it hard to find the time. As I push 50 I find it more crucial than ever to stay active, mostly on a bicycle or a run these days, but I try to make time for calisthenics and stretching as well. Having that time to clear my head while being active is so important to both my mental and physical health.
Great article as always Norman!
This topic is actually very complex and could use a very long or multiple essays.
I think it's important to separate out jock/jocks mindset/jock culture from exercise/sports.
The real issue is jock mindset/jock culture. Obviously separating that from sports and exercise can be tricky but in simplistic terms the issues many of us had and likely still have is with the jock mindset/culture. This to me even infected some of the 90's hardcore and I contend even helped create emocore/emo as a way to further distance oneself from this way of thinking.
I think the emphasis on intellectual activities is important as the typical jock mindset is anti-intellectual. They are also very much for the status quo and conformity which should be the antithesis of punk.
So sports and maybe move importantly exceercize and working on one's physical body is a great thing. We should all probably do more of it for all the reasons you list. But we can do so without accepting or embracing the jock mindset/jock culture. I've personally never enjoyed it and think on the whole it's toxic. And to be clear, yes I've played organized sports both in school (thru college) and as an adult. I never enjoyed spending time with any of these people other than within the sport activity.
You could write an entire essay on this mindset and it's impact on violence, misogyny and homophobia in hardcore as well. Some perpetrated by "jocks" some by those "in the scene " but in the end there way of being was/is quite similar. This was not only with the fans but with some bands as well. It's for me the major reason I stopped listening to HC and moved away from the scene and why I prefer "emocore"/screamo/emo to most straight up older HC. Thankfully the majority of the new breed of HC bands are much more emotional and a whole lot less angry and attracted to violence for the sake of violence. Plus with so many female voices in the scene now there is a whole new perspective Thankfully.
Thanks for all you do for the community and us fans of your music and writing.
Oh wow I needed to read this today -- also SO excited for Thursday's interview, the new Gouge Away album is incredible!!
"...as it turns out, like Rollins, I actually have had moments of self-realization at the gym."
Same. No doubt. Though I was the punk playing lacrosse in my large hardcore high school scene (we were about 30 strong), we all laughed it off together. Later, myself and so many of my longtime and still dedicated straight edge peers got into cardio—namely running and cycling—as adults.
I have to comment because this is a big deal for me. I really honestly do hate jocks. To me Henry Rollins is the LAST person I would call a jock. I never thought being a jock had anything to do with how physically oriented you were. To me jocks were first and foremost disgustingly MALE. I also hate just as much the cheerleader culture that went lockstep one pace behind the jock culture. To me it was like the uptime humiliation of femininity.
Someone who works out, is healthy, is physically in touch with their body, even someone who might play or even (maybe, lol) just like sports is by no means a JOCK.
I don’t know if I articulated but at least this is good for thought and an attempt to express my view on the matter. I honestly think jock culture is more inherently and inexorably diametric to punk than organized religion is.
My friends and I definitely got our share of shit from jocks in high school, but...I didn't so much think of it in terms of sports as I did what would eventually get called toxic masculinity. I didn't get into sports, and that certainly got me my share of side-eye, but I had a friend who played on our high school football team *and* went to punk shows, and I lifted weights for awhile. So when straight-edge started taking more and more from athletics, it wasn't so much sports per se that bugged me about it as it was bands who looked a lot like the kind of guys who started shit with me and my friends. Like Kevin Seconds said, what we've got is strength.
100
Like James, I've enjoyed playing sports and active competition since I was a kid, but was always put off by jock mentalities. It was hard to find punks to do that stuff with, so I was thrilled when I stepped out back of a show at the Chatham Church in 1995 (maybe it was the Fieldsboro American Legion) to find a pickup soccer game going on. I didn't know anyone playing, but they welcomed me into the game. I remember Zoli and Martin DC joined in. It's one of my favorite memories of going to hc shows.
I played on club teams until my mid-30s when kids came along and found it hard to find the time. As I push 50 I find it more crucial than ever to stay active, mostly on a bicycle or a run these days, but I try to make time for calisthenics and stretching as well. Having that time to clear my head while being active is so important to both my mental and physical health.