“Here We Are Now, Educate Us”: The Punk Attitude, Tenets and Lens of Student-Driven Learning

This chapter explores the founding and ongoing development of The History of Punk. It is a free course and radio show focused on learning about, and through, punk’s tenets and history. Outlining the connection of the punk attitude to student-driven learning, this chapter shows how the “punk lens” is used to examine diverse contemporary and historical issues. It also provides a template for creating a non-hierarchical course grounded in critical pedagogy accessible to learners outside of the academy. Stressing the value of participation, this chapter argues that creating a learning environment through a shared attitude is an opportunity for critical engagement, resistance, and working together towards social change.