SKU: 76473327251

We're Not Here to Entertain: Punk Rock, Ronald Reagan, and the Real Culture War of 1980s America

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We're Not Here to Entertain: Punk Rock, Ronald Reagan, and the Real Culture War of 1980s AmericaMany remember the 1980s as the era of Ronald Reagan, a conservative decade populated by preppies and yuppies dancing to a soundtrack of electronic synth pop music. In some ways, it was the "MTV generation." However, the decade also produced some of the most creative works of punk culture, from the music of bands like the Minutemen and the Dead Kennedys to avant garde visual arts, literature, poetry, and film. In We're Not Here to Entertain, Kevin

Many remember the 1980s as the era of Ronald Reagan, a conservative decade populated by preppies and yuppies dancing to a soundtrack of electronic synth pop music. In some ways, it was the "MTV generation." However, the decade also produced some of the most creative works of punk culture, from the music of bands like the Minutemen and the Dead Kennedys to avant-garde visual arts, literature, poetry, and film. In We're Not Here to Entertain, Kevin Mattson documents what Kurt Cobain once called a "punk rock world" --the all-encompassing hardcore-indie culture that incubated his own talent. Mattson shows just how widespread the movement became--ranging across the nation, from D.C. through Ohio and Minnesota to LA--and how democratic it was due to its commitment to Do-It-Yourself (DIY) tactics.

Throughout, Mattson puts the movement into a wider context, locating it in a culture war that pitted a blossoming punk scene against the new president. Reagan's talk about end days and nuclear warfare generated panic; his tax cuts for the rich and simultaneous slashing of school lunch program funding made punks, who saw themselves as underdogs, seethe at his meanness. The anger went deep, since punks saw Reagan as the country's entertainer-in-chief; his career, from radio to Hollywood and television, synched to the very world punks rejected. Through deep archival research, Mattson reignites the heated debates that punk's opposition generated in that era-about everything from "straight edge" ethics to anarchism to the art of dissent. By reconstructing the world of punk, Mattson demonstrates that it was more than just a style of purple hair and torn jeans. In so doing, he reminds readers of punk's importance and its challenge to simplistic assumptions about the 1980s as a one-dimensional, conservative epoch.


Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Published: 08/06/2020
ISBN: 9780190908232
Pages: 416
Weight: 1.55lbs
Size: 9.20h x 5.90w x 1.40d
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SKU: 76473327251

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Angela
Whiting, US
★★★★★ 1
NOT SLIM FIT.
Size: Large, Color: White
NOT A SLIM FIT. Misleading. White is off-white, cream. Not neutral, bright white. Decent material. Ok quality. Textured, thin but not too thin. Dressy, not very casual.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2026
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Peyton
San Leandro, US
★★★★★ 5
Great, snug on arms if you have bigger arms
Color: Red Navy Gingham, Size: Large
I had no issues with the fit as it was true to size. Large is snug on the arms if you have bigger arms.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2026
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Ragnar_Reviews
Alexandria, US
★★★★★ 5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Great Fit and Style for Casual Nights Out
Color: Navy Gingham, Size: Large
Use case: Casual wear, transitional weather 👕 Fit & Feel I’m really impressed with the cut of this shirt — it’s slim fit, but still relaxed and comfortable enough for casual settings. I prefer to wear it untucked, and it lays just right for a clean, stylish look. 🎨 Style & Material Color and pattern are on point, making it versatile for evenings out. The high cotton content feels soft, though I’ve avoided using a dryer to prevent shrinkage. Fabric is breathable and suitable for transitional weather — not too heavy, not too light. ✅ Final Thoughts Overall, this is a stylish and comfortable shirt that looks great and fits well for taller builds. I’d definitely order more in different patterns.
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Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2025
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Jason Hofmann
Los Angeles, US
★★★★★ 5
Good quality
Color: White Navy Gingham, Size: Medium
Love this shirt. Good quality and fits me at 6’2”
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Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2026
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Laurence F
Los Angeles, US
★★★★★ 4
Nice color, lightweight, but runs small
Color: Blue Gingham, Size: Large
Nice cookie and can be work tucked or untucked. The material isn’t best quality but it’s about as expected for a shirt this price range. The size runs small so buy a size up from what you normally do. Expect some shrinkage is well. Otherwise it’s a nice shirt!
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Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2025

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