Wednesday, May 02, 2007

Undercut Nation

I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I KNOW!!!
Any kid that has an undercut is trouble...the undercut is for bogan kids, drug dealers, kids that spit, shoplift and smoke cigarettes in primary schools. Kids that try to make their own crossbows, kids who use sodium bulbs to blow up things, kids who tagged, kids who wore flannel shirts around their waists...
But I find myself having to admit, the undercut is pretty cool. trouble, but cool. The mullet has had a renaissance thanks to a resurge in websites dedicated to it but the undercut was a similar late 80's early 90's sensation that may represent the suburban graffiti period of white gangsta.
I see white kids with corn-rows and it makes me want to vomit. Then you know the shaved head has made it's way into every sub culture it doesn't say anything anymore. But the undercut says 'stop looking at me old man' or 'keep your hands in your pockets whilst on public transport'.
I guess it went out, like me with the grunge movement. And sure a new generation needs to define itself with a retro take on goth vis a vis the assymetrical emo haircut.
The problem with emo is that it's goth with the romance removed, so what was easy pickings with some ingroup upside before is now easy pickings with all emotional vulnerability downside.
The undercut represented the top bit of an empowered individual, it took dedication, commitment, self confidence. You could accesorize but not overly so., sadly I think my undercut days are gone. Furthermore you punch undercut into google and you find frustratingly few examples for me to substantiate how gangsta it is/was. I don't know anyone these days with an undercut, something happened to masculinaty sometime when friends came in and every white boy became a gel boy.
Let's not forget the importance of the undercut to women though. It can give that same fuck-off vibe whilst preserving femininity. time for some exhibits:

Exhibit A: Mike patton circa Epic channeling pure white cool slightly pre-grunge watch the you tube clip to gain full appreciation

Exhibit B: Trent Reznor circa Head Like a Hole, the dawn of industrial sub culture, check you tube again for appreciation of the 'english headbanger' where dreadlocks and the undercut meet

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