The problem with catharsis, though, is it can often be mistaken for praxis.
Heavy metal, RATM and the like are just more means of capitalist consumption. They might make you feel like a rebel, but you aren't actually rebelling against anything. In some ways I think the commodification of counterculture has resulted in the neutering of activism in the West, people want to listen to the media and spread the memes but no one but the Nazi scum ever wants to follow through in any way that matters.
IDK, maybe I'm just cynical but once you hear this stuff being played in establishment spaces you start to view it all as a sick joke.
Heavy metal, RATM and the like are just more means of capitalist consumption. They might make you feel like a rebel, but you aren't actually rebelling against anything. In some ways I think the commodification of counterculture has resulted in the neutering of activism in the West, people want to listen to the media and spread the memes but no one but the Nazi scum ever wants to follow through in any way that matters.
IDK, maybe I'm just cynical but once you hear this stuff being played in establishment spaces you start to view it all as a sick joke.