Emo
Created | Updated Oct 18, 2005
Emo
In the 90s a new fad became popular to the raging masses… THE TICKLE ME ELMO! He was red, he was cute, he giggled, and he is not what this essay is about. This essay is about Elmo’s opposite; the dark, the not-cute, the depressed and whiny group known as “Emo”. The “L” makes all the difference. This new word in our pop culture has many interesting characteristics about it, and is even its own subculture in a way! :) … Wait, I mean: :( “Life sucks”.
In the beginning, this word originated from a branch of hardcore rock and roll. The word “Emo” originally was short for “Emotional Hardcore”. Rock and roll was normally listened to and created by young rebellious kids, but then one group of rock and rollers decided to go so far as to not only be rebellious, but to actually whine and complain and hate the world!  Yay emotionally troubled youth! Most people define “Emo” music as punk/hardcore/rock and roll with a depressing, emotional tone to it. Although people all have very different ideas on where and when “Emo” music actually came from, we can all agree on these basic facts.
Although the history of “Emo” is very nonspecific and argued over, what “Emo” is, is very specific. And, like every style or type of music, there is a stereotype to the kind of people who listen to “Emo” and even the music itself. The “Emo” community is normally thought of as a bunch of hormonal teenagers, who seem to have life pretty good compared to some, but complain, whine, and sing depressing lyrics about how life sucks, how their parents just don’t understand, and how they really like this pretty girl, but she doesn’t like them back because they’re too Emo… and “oh woe is me!” :(
As every subculture does, “Emo Children” (AKA: Fans of Emo) have their own style. From lingo, to looks, to attitudes… they have everything, including the famous “Emo Glasses”!  As I’ve established so far, “Emo” people normally have poor attitudes. Actually the word “Emo” referring to people and not the music often stands for “Emotional Wreck” as in the common phrase, “Hey, you look really Emo today, what’s wrong?” The Emo look consists of tight shirts and baggy pants in drab colors from Goodwill or ‘Hand-me-downs’. Guys tend to have shaggy hair that hangs low over their eyes, and girls often have short hair with straight cut bangs (dyed black if needed) and for added effect, all “Emo Children” should have the “Emo Glasses” to complete the look. “Emo Glasses” are the signature Emo style. Square, thick, big, black, and often dorky looking glasses are the look and if you don’t have perfect vision, and you’re Emo, they are a must have! Even some “Emo Children” who don’t need glasses, get the black, boxy glasses for an extra effect. <biggrin>
So in conclusion, even though those whiny, shaggy looking, depressed people know as the “Emo” can be depressing and annoying at times, their loud, badly written music says something more than just, “Life sucks”… It tells us that… well actually, never mind because that’s basically all their music says. The point is; there is more to “Emo” then just their catch phrase of “life sucks”. To begin with, they have a history and an origin, which proves that their subculture has been around for a while, and is not dying out any time soon. Also, there is already an “Emo” stereotype which proves that the Emo are now well known enough to make depressing difference. And of course, the “Emo” is not just a group and a type of music we talk about, it’s a subculture, and it has its own style and way of life. So when it all comes down to it, that shaggy looking whiny-kid in the back of the classroom isn’t really all that bad. Actually he and his other Emo buddies are pretty cool. Plus… they have the glasses! <biggrin>
In the 90s a new fad became popular to the raging masses… THE TICKLE ME ELMO! He was red, he was cute, he giggled, and he is not what this essay is about. This essay is about Elmo’s opposite; the dark, the not-cute, the depressed and whiny group known as “Emo”. The “L” makes all the difference. This new word in our pop culture has many interesting characteristics about it, and is even its own subculture in a way! :) … Wait, I mean: :( “Life sucks”.
In the beginning, this word originated from a branch of hardcore rock and roll. The word “Emo” originally was short for “Emotional Hardcore”. Rock and roll was normally listened to and created by young rebellious kids, but then one group of rock and rollers decided to go so far as to not only be rebellious, but to actually whine and complain and hate the world!  Yay emotionally troubled youth! Most people define “Emo” music as punk/hardcore/rock and roll with a depressing, emotional tone to it. Although people all have very different ideas on where and when “Emo” music actually came from, we can all agree on these basic facts.
Although the history of “Emo” is very nonspecific and argued over, what “Emo” is, is very specific. And, like every style or type of music, there is a stereotype to the kind of people who listen to “Emo” and even the music itself. The “Emo” community is normally thought of as a bunch of hormonal teenagers, who seem to have life pretty good compared to some, but complain, whine, and sing depressing lyrics about how life sucks, how their parents just don’t understand, and how they really like this pretty girl, but she doesn’t like them back because they’re too Emo… and “oh woe is me!” :(
As every subculture does, “Emo Children” (AKA: Fans of Emo) have their own style. From lingo, to looks, to attitudes… they have everything, including the famous “Emo Glasses”!  As I’ve established so far, “Emo” people normally have poor attitudes. Actually the word “Emo” referring to people and not the music often stands for “Emotional Wreck” as in the common phrase, “Hey, you look really Emo today, what’s wrong?” The Emo look consists of tight shirts and baggy pants in drab colors from Goodwill or ‘Hand-me-downs’. Guys tend to have shaggy hair that hangs low over their eyes, and girls often have short hair with straight cut bangs (dyed black if needed) and for added effect, all “Emo Children” should have the “Emo Glasses” to complete the look. “Emo Glasses” are the signature Emo style. Square, thick, big, black, and often dorky looking glasses are the look and if you don’t have perfect vision, and you’re Emo, they are a must have! Even some “Emo Children” who don’t need glasses, get the black, boxy glasses for an extra effect. <biggrin>
So in conclusion, even though those whiny, shaggy looking, depressed people know as the “Emo” can be depressing and annoying at times, their loud, badly written music says something more than just, “Life sucks”… It tells us that… well actually, never mind because that’s basically all their music says. The point is; there is more to “Emo” then just their catch phrase of “life sucks”. To begin with, they have a history and an origin, which proves that their subculture has been around for a while, and is not dying out any time soon. Also, there is already an “Emo” stereotype which proves that the Emo are now well known enough to make depressing difference. And of course, the “Emo” is not just a group and a type of music we talk about, it’s a subculture, and it has its own style and way of life. So when it all comes down to it, that shaggy looking whiny-kid in the back of the classroom isn’t really all that bad. Actually he and his other Emo buddies are pretty cool. Plus… they have the glasses! <biggrin>
