The Decline of Western Civilization Collection

Eugene Tatu

Alice Bag

Claude Bessy

Dinah Cancer

Exene Cervenka

Lorna Doom

Darby Crash

Don Bolles

Philo Cramer

John Doe

Lee Ving

Greg Ginn

Chuck Dukowski

Ron Reyes

Pat Smear

Greg Hetson

Keith Morris

Nicole Panter

Penelope Spheeris

Steve Conant

Charlie Mullins

Jeff Prettyman

Gordon Brown

Documentary

Music

The Decline of Western Civilization

Spheeris Films Inc.

United States of America

Though I both am neither a punk aficionado (I have seen X live in Detroit in 2008) nor an expert on Spheeris' films (I have seen and enjoyed both 'Wayne's World' and 'Little Rascals'), this was very satisfying. The energy and spirit of these rebellious youths really comes across well, and the clever assertion from one of the interviewees that punk is simply another form of folk and protest music, albeit with different instruments and at a faster speed, rings true. Though I'm not privy to the Los Angeles scene (I'm from Windsor, Ontario, for crying out loud), it appears to be quite an accurate depiction, although it doesn't seem to grab hold, perhaps, of the underground movement. Seeing this, I look forward to the latter two parts of the trilogy, and only wish over the years that Spheeris had expanded her sights, and made documentaries of other, vital, forms of music in L.A., such as folk, hip-hop, rap, jazz, classical, experimental, even soundtrack work for films, since Hollywood is right nearby, and as someone already part of the filmmaking scene, she would have had access to some of the greats of our time.

English

The Decline of Western Civilization 1981 Trailer HD | Documentary | Punk Rock