What was once a term used to describe a subset of punk music has now become a teen phenomenon. Emo is a term assigned to kids with jet black hair, often worn in front of their eyes, their choice of music and style of dress reflecting their raw emotionality. Some would say it is just one in a long line of passing teen fads but there is something to be said for the early age at which kids are expected to take on adult responsibilities and how that could force them into more adult emotional states.
Beginning of Emo
The term emo was actually born in the Washington D.C. music scene. Short for emocore it was used to describe a subgenre of punk music known as "emotional hardcore". Through the late 80s, 90s and on to the modern day the term has migrated from it's punk roots to describe much more mainstream bands like Fall Out Boy and My Chemical Romance.
Fashion Trend
In recent years the term emo became associated with a specific fashion as well. Jet black hair, often worn over in front of the eyes, and eye liner are not uncommon. Converse All Stars are a favorite as well as pants that are either awkwardly tight or life threateningly loose. As the stereotype indicates, any Hot Topic clothes are a possibility. Multiple piercings are a given and ear "gauges" are very popular and for the older crowd, plenty of body art (tattooing) is also common. Studded belts usually round out the look for guys and girls alike.
Emotional Teens
Tempting as it is to pigeonhole emo teens as nothing more than followers of a fashion trend, for many if not most of them, fashion choices are outward expressions of inner angst. They are a patently emotional crowd who claim to feel things more deeply than their socially conforming counterparts.
Adolescence is an emotionally tumultuous time in everyone's life. Unlike other teens trying to armor their inner feelings against the eyes of the world, emo teens weave their feelings into the fabric of their public persona and their social interactions. Some revel in being misunderstood, others are tortured by the lack of empathy their peers possess, but most all emo teens are moved by deep currents of emotion.
Those outside the emo boundaries see it as vying for attention or melodrama. In an age where teens take on adult roles, attitudes and responsibilities at earlier ages, is it so far beyond belief that their emotional responses are getting more powerful? Perhaps for some they are even unmanageable.
 |
