A good insight.

Last weekend the Guggenheim in New York held a round-table of sorts to about the 80's hardcore scene; all to promote a newly-released documentary on the subject. The New York Times had a short, but rambling summing-up of the affair. At the end of the article, the staff writer made this statement:

"And although many of these bands defined themselves in opposition to Reagan’s country, the violent, petty, proud, often thrilling place they created wasn’t always so different. It’s tempting to idealize subcultures, but hardcore is a reminder that underground worlds aren’t usually any nobler, or any better, than the overground one. All those Reagan heads on flyers seem pretty spiteful, but maybe there’s also a hint of envy: tough young white guys paying grudging tribute to a tough old one."