Romantic macho: rebellious man in Estonian punk rock

Hannaliisa Uusma

The article analyzes the practices and experiences, attitudes and meanings related to the construction of masculinity on the example of the legendary Estonian punk band Vennaskond. The article considers both the international rituals and norms of punk and rock music tradition more generally as well as the possible influence of the post-socialist society and cultural space on Vennaskond’s patterns of constructing masculinity. In other words, the article focuses on rocking masculinity in (post-socialist) Estonia. 

The article is based on a qualitative socio- logical study conducted in 2013−2014. The results have been reached by synthesizing two types of empirical data (interviews with band members and song lyrics) and by combining qualitative sociological methods of data collection and analysis.