The globalization of music is inevitable, which explains why certain genres of music created in one region of the world are duplicated in another. In the documentary, The Punks Are Alright, the globalization of punk music was expressed in Indonesia, Brazil, and Canada. In Indonesia punk music conflicted with Islamic traditions, however provided comfort to the oppressed poverty stricken population. In Brazil punk music was a safe haven for the youth, saving them from the drug dealing communities, yet the music was also at odds with Catholicism. Music could be compared to stages of various lifestyles; when analyzing the difference between someone who prefers to listen to heavy metal music and one who listens to meditation music, the conclusion is both people lead different lifestyles. The heavy metal listener would not necessarily be able to listen to meditative music because it does not satisfy his needs. In light of this concept, listening to punk music releases people from the oppression they experience from their society and performing it reflects the hunger for freedom.

            Before watching the film, punk music was just some angry kid music according to what I believed. I never could grasp the significance of what punk music stood for until now. In both Brazil and Indonesia, punk music is a symbol of rebellion from the unjust hardships the people constantly attempt to endure. It seems like the people in impoverished areas of Indonesia and Brazil are rejects without anything good going for them in their future, but then punk music reminds them that they’re not alone and have each other to lean on. I understand how all their anger from their oppression, bottled up inside them, is released when people participate in the mosh pit at punk concerts. The youth of Brazil and Indonesia make my life seem like the equivalent of living in a palace because of the opportunities given to me here in the United States. I could say that I’m ashamed of ever feeling ungrateful for some things I take for granted like running water or a clean environment.

            Despite my lifestyle of opportunities, I can relate to the artists’ way of life because I apprehend their hardships on a moderate level. From what I understand, Dolly worked in a tennis shoe factory for $2.65 an hour, six days a week and he traveled to and from work in total of four hours. Although my life is nowhere near that difficult, I know what it’s like to work for peanuts. Women in general get paid less than men do in America, however that’s a fortune compared to what Dolly gets paid. Henricke worked as a teacher in Brazil’s youth educational facilities and he was exposed to their problems as well. Some of the students were sexually abused and others were into the drug dealing business. Undoubtedly, these things aren’t foreign problems here in America. I have relatives that have lived in impoverished areas, which included drug dealing and various abusive behaviors amongst the youth. The anxiety I feel for the youth in my grandfather’s neighborhood, Chicago’s west side, is now the same anxiety I feel for the youth of Brazil because they have the same struggles. When I think about the correlation between Brazil’s poor community and the American poor communities, it’s the same concept.

Brazil occupies the greatest number of Catholics in the world, which is to say that their society is largely religious. Punk artists, I imagine, are shunned because of the image they create; rebellious outfits and hair styles, outrageous music, and overall disrespect to the church. From a cultural aspect, Brazil and the U.S. are similar; the youth of Brazil are just as rebellious as the youth of America. For instance, many male teens refuse to do nothing but clown around in school with the pants hanging below their waists. Some of them are into rap music and others are into drug dealing, but few are into education. They seem to believe that there is no way out of their struggles in society, so the only way to survive is to do whatever is necessary. Despite the differentiating rebellions, both rebel groups are communicating with the world in hopes to belong to something greater than their oppressors.

Indonesia is known for its exquisite vacation resorts and American tourists visit for this reason. I used to wonder why it was such a big deal for American to travel to other countries and be regarded as “financially special” versus just normal people on a trip. Compared to the United States, Indonesia is in economic ruin for various reasons; one of those being corporate companies building factories, like the one Dolly works in, in favor of paying the locals cheaply and gaining profit in abundance. Despite Indonesia’s democratic government, the capitalist hand dominates their country.

After viewing the film, I believe my perception of youth culture in Brazil and Indonesia has caused me to become aware of the close relations we share with these people. I used think these places were much more contrasting to where I live, but now I know its very much the same. I don’t live in the exact same ways as they do; yet I can still relate to their hardships from looking at my own. I’ve also taken into account that punk music is more than random people making silly songs, but people expressing their thirst for justice, equality, and individuality.