Emo (pronounced /ˈiːmoʊ/) is a genre of music that originated from hardcore punk [1] and later adopted pop punk influences when it became mainstream in the United States.
It has since come to describe several variations of music with common roots and associated fashion and stereotypes.
In the mid-1980s, the term emo described a subgenre of hardcore punk which stemmed from the Washington, D.C. hardcore scene. In later years, the term emocore, short for "emotional hardcore",[2][3] was also used to describe the emotional performances of bands in the Washington, D.C.Revolution Summer" movement and some of the offshoot regional scenes such as Rites of Spring, Embrace, One Last Wish, Beefeater, Gray Matter, Fire Party, and later, Moss Icon. "
In the mid-1990s, the term emo began to refer to the indie scene that followed the influences of Fugazi, which itself was an offshoot of the first wave of emo. Bands including Sunny Day Real Estate, Far and Texas Is the Reason had a more indie rock style of emo, more melodic and less chaotic. The so-called "indie emo" scene survived until the late 1990s, when many of the bands either disbanded or shifted to mainstream styles. As the remaining indie emo bands entered the mainstream, newer bands began to emulate the mainstream style.
Today popular bands like Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance,[4] Panic at the Disco,[5] and Paramore[6] are rock bands that are identified as being in or evolved from the emo music genre.
Fashion and stereotype
Today emo is commonly tied to both music and fashion as well as an inspiration toward the emo subculture,[20] and the term "emo" is sometimes stereotyped with tight jeans on males and females alike, long fringe (bangs) brushed to one side of the face or over one or both eyes, dyed black, straight hair, tight t-shirts (usually short-sleeved) which often bear the names of emo bands (or other designer shirts), studded belts, belt buckles, canvas sneakers or skate shoeshorn-rimmed glasses.[21][22][23]fad.[24] Early on, emo fashion was associated with a clean cut look[25] but as the style spread to younger teenagers, the style has become darker, with long bangs and emphasis on the colour black replacing sweater vests. or other black shoes and thick, black This fashion has at times been characterized as a
In recent years the popular media have associated emo with a stereotype that includes being emotional, sensitive, shy, introverted, or angst-ridden.[26][27][28] It is also associated with depression, self-injury, and suicide.[29][30]
Backlash
Warped Tour founder, Kevin Lyman stated that he believes there is an emo backlash saying that he sees "I hate emo" t-shirts and that there was hostility among bands on the tour towards emo groups.[31]
In 2008, Time Magazine reported that "anti-emo" groups attacked teenagers in Mexico City, Querétaro, and Tijuana.[32][33] One of Mexico's foremost critics of emo was Kristoff, a music presenter on the popular TV channel Telehit.
Gerard Way, the lead singer of My Chemical Romance stated in an interview "emo is a pile of shit", and that his "band was never emo".[34] Panic at the Disco also stated in an interview with NME: "emo is bullshit."[35] These two bands, however, tend to be classified as emo.
Fans of emo are criticized[who?] for purported displays of emotion common in the scene. Complaints claimed that emotions were expressed in an histrionic manner.[36]
Justin Jacobs has criticised emo music of the early 2000s, arguing it became boring and generic.[37]
Emo music has been blamed for the suicide by hanging of Hannah Bond by both the coroner at the inquest into her death and her mother, Heather Bond, after it was claimed that emo music glamorized suicide and her apparent obsession with My Chemical Romance was said to be linked to her suicide. The inquest heard that she was part of an Internet "emo" cult [38] and her Bebo page contained an image of an 'emo girl' with bloody wrists.[39] It also heard that she had discussed the "glamour" of hanging online[38] and had explained to her parents that her self harming was an "emo initiation ceremony".[39] Heather Bond criticised emo fashion, saying: "There are 'emo' websites that show pink teddies hanging themselves." After the verdict was reported in NME, fans of emo music contacted the magazine to defend against accusations that it promotes self harm and suicide.[40]
In Russia, a law has been presented at the Duma to regulate emo websites and forbid emo style at schools and government buildings, for fears of emo being a "dangerous teen trend" promoting anti-social behaviour, depression, social withdrawal and even suicide.[41][42]
