The Value of Work
Money has always been punk’s most uncomfortable subject. But is our historical idea of “fairness” still working for us?
I.
A few months ago, a friend of mine pointed me in the direction of an Instagram bootleg shirt account. They were rolling out the preorder for a Texas is the Reason “boot,” and quite frankly, that’s not something that would normally bother me. I’ve seen what feels like dozens of “Instagram boot” pages at this point, and I’ve even ordered shirts from a couple of them. The best ones pay homage to our favorite, mostly defunct bands with either new or improved designs, and that creative work is what makes these “boots” a tribute and not a simple cash-grab. In my opinion, creative intention matters—even if the ethics are, admittedly, still a little mired.
When I looked at the shirt this particular account was selling, however, I did not see that. I looked hard for any sign of innovation, almost incredulously, but all I found was an exact reproduction of a shirt that actually existed, had an actual designer behind it, and came about with direct creative input from the…