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This Is The Modern World?

Is it really time for punk to be categorized as nostalgia? Surely there’s enough anger still churning among the unsettled masses of America and the U.K. to keep the frenzy on the street. Yet given the ability of U.S. record marketers to have forcibly smoothed punk rock into new wave and the tendency of some Brits to treat rebellious movements as steps towards artistic godhood, it was inevitable for 1977’s excesses to become frozen into 1981’s archives.

July 1, 1981
Toby Goldstein

This Is The Modern World?

CREEMEDIA

BREAKING GLASS (Paramount)

D.O.A.: DEAD ON ARRIVAL (A High Times Film)

DANCE CRAZE (Chrysalis Films)

by Toby Goldstein

Is it really time for punk to be categorized as nostalgia? Surely there’s enough anger still churning among the unsettled masses of America and the U.K. to keep the frenzy on the street. Yet given the ability of U.S. record marketers to have forcibly smoothed punk rock into new wave and the tendency of some Brits to treat rebellious movements as steps towards artistic godhood, it was inevitable for 1977’s excesses to become frozen into 1981’s archives.

Two English and one Anglo-American film examine the angry years with varied amounts of concern. Of course, considering that the latest English export is Piratemania escapism in fancy dress, all the above come off textbook serious. Least ambitious in its intentions is Dance Craze, a lengthy in-concert portrayal of six top nouveau-ska bands, filmed about a year ago at several venues. The giveaway to the film’s bias is evident in its first frames, which read, “Chrysalis Records present...” No one’s toes are going to be stepped on here.

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