Reading recommendations on Post-Punk and Popular Modernism
Added 2024-06-24 23:46:19 +0000 UTCBefore we get into the texts, I'll recommend the 3-part BBC documentary Punk Britannia, part 3 of which is about post-punk. I drew from it in both research and footage:
Part 1: https://youtu.be/pB2mTW_61m0?si=nkiIeqUF0p7Pj78I
Part 2: https://youtu.be/3EkUA8treKk?si=ALYW7UYxkKIpAJ-u
Part 3: https://youtu.be/CB_hfteQAHM?si=mWE8dO-jmJDl1rGs
There is also the documentary Synth Britannia, about British synth pop (talks about The Human League, among others):
https://youtu.be/1AR2vBG639I?si=UL0Siv1BXQUmmabx
Now, as for the reading recommendations:
On post-punk:
Rip It Up and Start Again by Simon Reynolds is basically the post-punk bible.
Post-Punk Then & Now (edited by Mark Fisher, Gavin Butt & Kodwo Eshun) is a great anthology. It has Mark Fisher's lecture Going Overground (Chapter 5), which is perhaps his most in-depth discussion of popular modernism. Also has a chapter on British art schools (Chapter 3), and one on the Polish post-punk scene (Chapter 4).
Ghosts of My Life by Mark Fisher. Although the book isn't centered on post-punk, it introduces the concept of popular modernism and has a chapter on Joy Division. Significant for Mark Fisher's cultural theory in general.
Fade to Grey by Madelena Caron. I haven't read the entire thing but wanted to share this cool find I discovered because it's actually someone's bachelor's thesis on post-punk and modernism! Bands discussed include Ultravox, Spandau Ballet, Japan, Cabaret Voltaire, and others.
On Adorno & modernism:
Aesthetic Theory by Theodor Adorno.
Understanding Adorno, Understanding Modernism (edited by Robin Truth Goodman).
Adorno's Modernism by Espen Hammer.
On architecture:
Militant Modernism by Owen Hatherley. The book on modernist architecture I quoted from.
The Adventures of Owen Hatherley in the Post-Soviet Space by Owen Hatherley. Not directly related to my video but an interesting discussion of post-soviet urban space, also has a chapter on Kaunas, a city from my home country.
All of these texts can be found in .pdf or .epub form on our Google Drive:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1rasWDAFyI4t1EOSePbeLc0LbMKf10rHN?usp=sharing
I hope you find this helpful and find something enjoyable to read!
Thank you!