"Speed, Madness, Flying Saucers"

This past week we read an essay by Dick Hebidge on "Subcultures". Subcultures tend to deviate or resist the standard and accepted norms of the masses. What I find to be most peculiar about subcultures though, is how often they tend to become blurred or entrangled eventually with mass culture.

Such is the case I feel with the "subculture" that was created by Andy Warhol and his followers.

Andy Warhol's "Factory" became a haven for all the misfits, transvestites, prostitutes, and other fabulously neurotic struggling starlets who were trying to become famous. The "Factory" originally an empty warehouse in Manhattan that was used as a work space for his art. Before long, the interesting people that Warhol came into contact with, many of whom were homeless and/or junkies began to take up residency in it.

The Factory itself, became sort of subculture.

The original Factory was covered in silver tinfoil and paint. It was decorated by Warhol's friend and live-in photographer, Billy Name. The silver themed factory quickly caught on with those that hung out around the factory and eventually there were silver balloons hanging up in the rafters and pieces of broken mirrors lying all around that only furthered the "silver-glam" look that he was trying to achieve.

Drug use was perhaps one of the greatest uniting forces behind the Factory subculture. Amhpetamines, or speed, were the drugs of choice and were often ingested to keep up with the 24 hour a day party lifestyle that existed at the Factory.

The Factory also became a space for Andy Warhols musical developments to play. Lou Reed, The Velvet Underground, and Nico, were amoung Warhols special projects and were regulars at the Factory.

The most "counter cultural" or shocking aspect of the Factory, would possibly be for its use of making some of Warhols underground films. These films were never really made public, but contained extremely grahpic and sometimes sadistic sexual content, same sex relations, transgender figures, and massive orgies.

These films would take place over days in the Factory and random people would often show up to be in them. Drug use was prevaent throughout the filming and were possibly needed by some, just to manage to make it through the gruesome and degrading films.

Although the subculture that developed at Andy Warhol's Factory is a bit extreme, in many ways such activities that went on their became a part of the normal 60's and 70's culture. For example, Studio 54 was one of the hottest clubs in the 70's for all of Hollywoods stars. Drug use and questionabe sexual practices were common occurence at the club.

The lines of what becomes acceptable or common start to blur and eventually what was once shocking is no longer such an appalling idea.

I feel that this is generally the same for most trends and brings me back to previous essays that we've discussed about Avant Garde vs. High Culture.

Where does originality stop becoming original?

When does an act of vulgarity and defiance become routine?

Are we simply becoming desensitized to things or are we all becoming more accepting and understanding of the ways in which others choose to live their lives?