Hmm. I guess the difference is nobody’s going to try to beat you up walking out of Hot Topic just by virtue of the fact you were there, or for showing your love with your Dir En Grey t-shirt. Though dumb prejudice and plain teen angst will manifest themselves in a million different ways, (and I don’t doubt you and your friends have experienced the aforementioned through other scenarios) that was the general attitude toward this stuff once upon a time, silly as it may sound. It bred an even dumber elitist attitude that effectively killed what appealed to people in the first place. It seems to me that anything semi-subversive will be co-opted by the masses at large once the danger has been washed off. It’s nothing new. What matters to you should matter on a deeper level anyway.

— Jamie    2006-06-14 00:10    #

Kristen,

Another interesting and thought provoking article. I have never shopped at Hot Topic because I will walk to the local independent, in the snow, up hill, both ways, to get my Sex Pistols & many other things. Am I totally against BIG business and chain stores? No. I have bought plenty of books and cds from or through the world of Amazon.com. I could go on and on w/ examples. Let’s just say I try and shop independent as much as possible. The real point being the negative vibe with Hot Topic is that they started up a chain of stores that sell products for independent minded people! The contrast is what gets me and I refuse to support it. Plus, when I think of Hot Topic I think of kids that like the “new” Misfits and I feel ill. Sorry. Does Hot Topic make it easier to find certain items? Based on your findings and logical thinking the answer is ‘yes.’ Is shopping at Hot Topic for a Shadows Fall t-shirt better than buying a Clay Aiken cd? Hell yeah! Try independent avenues first and if they don’t fulfill then do what you have to do. Did I mention that I got the biggest kick out of that “Hot Topic Isn’t Punk” song? What a riot!
Thanks,
— Chris Bejgrowicz    2006-06-14 00:48    #

Jamie – Maybe Hot Topic shoppers should be beaten up on their way out the door – it might give independent shops more business. Your point that everything “semi-subversive” will be co-opted eventually is exactly what I was trying to get at with the piece, so just because Hot Topic sells it doesn’t mean its not a worthwhile piece of art.

Chris – It is pretty hilarious that a large chain of stores exists for independent minded people, and the irony is not lost on me one bit. Thanks for mentioning the MC Lars song – the lyrics are here if anyone else wants to have a laugh. The Shadows Fall v. Clay Aiken example is just what HT is good for – if you’re going to be trapped in a mall then at least you have a decent option for music purchasing. In the end, I’m glad people like you refuse to support HT, but I just can’t resist when I’m in the hood and I feel like buying a sweatband with an image of Hello Kitty in bondage stitched onto it. LOL! Hope you come back to the blog…

— Kristen Sollee    2006-06-14 01:28    #

Yes, I whole heartedly agree—I am a (visual) artist and I make my living by selling said art, and the more people that can find it, it the better, believe me. As Chris has pointed out, many of these shoppers don’t really know what they are buying anyway, let alone who they are supporting in doing so at a particular outlet (also nothing new). That actually bothers me more than anything else—the apathy, the complacency. Where is the passion? Ex-Spectator, anyone? But that aside, if the only place frequented by these kids ends up being the mall, it’s certainly not a bad thing that there are real gems to be discovered amongst all the costume jewelry, as you found out yourself. My favorite similar instance was finding Young Jump (an obscure to America manga/pin-up magazine, if you’re unfamiliar) for sale at the local Hastings (where unless I’m mistaken, one can procure body jewelry now as well). Anyway, thanks for the piece, and the thoughtful response.

— Jamie    2006-06-14 01:58    #

Let me first say that Mr. Bejorski’s letter has completely offended me. As a proud member of the Clay Aiken Clayniac Kids Society (CACKS) I do not appreciate the way Mr Benjorik denograded Mr Aiken. So, Chris, you think you can sing as well as Clay? I didn’t think so. It looks like the truth is looming over you and the Shadow Falls on your ignorance and arrogance. As for Hot Topic, it just seems a little dark and scary for me. I am honest (unlike Mr Begronowicz)- I am afraid I will be picked on for my fashion sense (I enjoy pastels- I don’t wear all black), my braces, and my complexion. Kids can be mean. I think if there is an evil empire it will be ruled by the likes of Chris Bejnarski and other mean kids like that.
Forever a Clayniac,
Jeffrey

— Jeffrey Anderson    2006-06-17 17:44    #

Nice article, but I can’t help but wonder: why should “the kids” care if Hot Topic is evil or not? If I was a 16 year old in America, right now, why would I care if something is “punk” or not? Even more so, why would I care if some 30, 40 or 50 year old thought that something had “authenticity”? The old punks closed ranks, years ago. Now Punk rock is just a costume show, trying to look or sound like a postcard of what was done a generation ago. It seems to me that it’s a lot like that Manowar credo from way back when: Death to False Metal. As silly as that seemed to me, it might be even sillier to cry “death to false punk”, these days.
Once you strip away the notion of some kind of “purity” to indie stuff, or some kind of belief in a current punk rock, I think the notion of Hot Topic being “evil” just seems silly. They are doing the same thing as the oh-so-elitest “indie” store, only better: selling pre-packaged notions, and capitalizing on trends at a mark up.

— Max    2006-06-18 19:14    #

The problem with Hot Topic that I see is that it is presenting a standard for rebellion. I have nothing against people selling their commodity, but, for instance, the original “punk” bands were different and the idea was free thought. Hot Topic, in presenting itself as a “rock and roll” store are giving teenagers a standard “rellious” look to be “punk rock”. For instance, I’ve worn Dickies pants for a very long time. The reason I started as a teenager was because they were cheap and lasted for very long periods of time. I crave comfort and durability at the cheapest price that I can get. I paid at most $17 or $18 dollars for a pair of pants. I still do when I go to Wal Mart or K-Mart. Now, when Dickies become fashionalbe in the “punk” circle, place like Hot Topic are selling these same pants for upwards of $40. Not only them, but other Mall Stores that go for that “counter-culture” appeal. This causes gullible kids to spend way too much for these things. These kids also seem to treat people like they aren’t “in” or “punk” if they don’t wear the fashions or accesories sold at Hot Topic. By giving a standardized uniform to punk and the culture, you have people looking down on those that don’t go by that look. I believe this comes from MTV, Fuse, and places such as Hot Topic. I feel that they feed into that lie to sale their clothes and such. I’m 27, not some old frump. We need to get back to “punk” or “alternative” being truly independent, and Hot Topic helps to keep that from happening. And by independent, I mean in thought.

— Laton Powers    2006-06-19 13:03    #

Jeffrey – LOL. Thank you for bringing some levity to the situation.

Max – You said, If I was a 16 year old in America, right now, why would I care if something is “punk” or not? Even more so, why would I care if some 30, 40 or 50 year old thought that something had “authenticity”?

That’s part of what I was trying to get across by poking fun at the older generation who cry “sell-out” at people my age and younger. While its ok to not care what older folks think, its not ok to not care about thinking in general. Its a delicate balance and god knows if it will ever be attained by more than a select few.

Laton – I’m not sure if its a chicken or egg thing with Hot Topic. Did they come along in the late 80’s and make kids consumer-zombies without a care for independent thought, or is that just a cultural value that was so prevalent somebody thought to capitalize on it by creating a chain like Hot Topic?

— Kristen Sollee    2006-06-23 17:48    #

I don’t think Hot Topic is the cause of manufactured rebellion, but they do encourage it. While I don’t have a problem with someone starting a business taking advantage of a situation, I feel there should be resonsibility that should come along with that to make kids think for themselves. I’m also aware that this will probably not happen with people taking responsibility that own a business, I think it SHOULD happen.

— Laton Powers    2006-06-23 18:28    #

to jeffrey Anderson hey man it’s cool if you like clay but you should show some f***ing resecpt to people like me who shop at hottopic not everybody likes pop music i myself listen to metal and wear stuff from hottopic but you shouldn’t be afrsid of that store we are not going to judge you dude i myself got picked on and it f***ing sucked man so stop making us fell like we are mean o.k.? plus hottopic rules bitch

— Nicholas Benton    2006-08-16 18:37    #

Hot Topic is a big business chain store that sells to independent people, and is selling things for too high a price. People call it punk, but there’s more truth in that “Hot Topic Is Not Punk Rock” song. Punk is inventing your own style, and doing things your own way, giving no regard to what other people’s thoughts are, which is incredibly difficult in this chain store-ing, underground explosion of a generation. Yet, I don’t look down on people if they say “Hey, look at this cool new item I got at Hot Topic!” If they’ve got the money and fell in love with something there, good for them. I’ve done the same. Yet, punk is dead. Or, as I like to say, punk’s taking a nap. Maybe, when this generation’s over and businesses stop exploiting every subculture style, it can start to revive. But is Hot Topic evil? Yes. It took a style, wrongly labeled it “punk”, and is now sucking up the money of millions of trendy teens’ rich parents. That is definitly NOT punk.

— Liz Cat    2006-09-04 16:42    #

Thank you so much for this article.
I agree with you completely..
When I heard Dir en grey was doing a tour with Korn, and noticed that Cure magazine was popping up in hot topic for 15.95 a pop here [rediculous since i can get them for 10 each online] and seeing dir en grey merch put up in there, quite honestly I was horrified. Now, I am not the kind of person who is going to say “I don’t want to like this, because everyone else does” and I am not the kind of person to stop likig something once it gets popular..it certainly won’t happen in the case of Dir en grey..but the fact that I could just walk into Hot Topic, a store I despise beyond belief, and buy a Dir en grey cd, just did not feel right at all. I hated the thought of dumb kids who don’t even know who they are yet, to come and listen to this music that I adore and understand everything about, including the culture surrounding it. Most of them don’t even get it. But I guess I am proud of Dir en grey…I am proud of Japanese music for getting the recognition it deserves. I just miss the days when nobody knew what visual kei was, because now I get shit for it every day. :|

— Mandy    2006-11-09 15:29    #