"Artistic rendition, subject to change."

Yeah, you don't say.

Regardless of gender, the appeal of moshing has always been multifaceted. But in a world where everything is performative content, the chance to exist in a chaotic space, is maybe more tantalizing than ever, as Dan Piepenbring wrote back in 2017:

"It appeals to base instincts; a positive thing, surely, in a modern culture where gigs are Snapchatted and documented, and wrapped in self-awareness that takes audiences away from experiences."

https://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2017/05/09/the-politics-of-the-mosh-pit-and-other-news/

#Rock #Metal #Punk

Today, you're more likely than ever before to see women (as well as gender non-conforming people) in a mosh pit. But experiences vary between scenes, venues, and individuals.

Hannah Kennedy has a good article on this, with interviews with several women, one of whom notes:

“I’ve literally never felt unsafe [while moshing]. It’s funny because moshing seems like an inherently violent thing, but in reality, it’s so pleasant. It’s kind of like a roller coaster.”

https://vtcynic.com/features/moshing-while-femme-gender-in-the-mosh-pit/

Quick flashback to the time Kurt Cobain intentionally put on a shitty performance after Nirvana's support act, Calamity Jane, received a sexist and violent reaction from the crowd:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_wmb0EmIsQ&list=RDG_wmb0EmIsQ&start_radio=1

#Grunge #Rock #Music

It kinda gets lost today in the blur of 'girl power' playlists and 'aesthetic compilations' on social media, but a lot of the Riot Grrrl scene was born out of a desire to push back against the male-dominated rock and punk scenes - ones which regularly saw woman heckled off stages and assaulted in crowds.

As Lauren E. Mei writes in The Harvard Crimson, these early 90s punk bands fought not only for the right to be in the pit, but to be respected in it:

https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2024/4/9/riot-grrrl-movement-retrospective-thinkpiece-punk-rock/

In my essay on the subject, I talked about how mosh pits can be a place for feminine rage. Nonetheless, traditionally, pits have been straight, cis male-dominated spaces.

As academic Elisa G. Gómez notes, their presence has often served to reinforce hegemonic masculinity, and the particularly violent nature of early hardcore punk and early metal pits often served to marginalise women and queer presences at gigs:

https://www.godhelpthegirl.com/women-in-punk-music-trailblazers-rebels-and-icons/

There's always been an interesting point of friction in #rock music between its often hyper-masculine presentation and its place as a medium for pushing boundaries, gender-bending and rebellion.

Over the years, I've absolutely noticed how gigs - but specifically gigs that features mosh pits - can serve as a microcosm of the gender politics present in alt scenes. And I wanted to share a few links on the subject...

#metal #punk #linkdump