“We are like a goat”: the theme of madness in Spanish punk songs

Abstract

IntroductionThe analysis of songs as discursive practices contributes to the understanding of the social representations of mental disorders in specific populations, as has been suggested in the literature. The aim of this article is to expand the knowledge about the depictions of madness (a broader but less delimited concept than psychosis) in the popular music focussing on emerging themes and their cross relations within the discourses of the madness in Spanish punk. Material and methodsQualitative research method. After the review of 3653 songs (1981–2010) insights from the Thematic Analysis of all the 163 identified lyrics of Spanish punk songs with the terms ‘mad,’ ‘madness’ or other related words are provided. Results and discussionAfter a thorough discussion of the main themes, the expression of subculture’s identity became evident. Its otherness was recognizable on the exaltation of madness as loss of control or unpredictability as well as its links with crime, substance abuse or ideological opposition, among others. ConclusionsThe idea of dangerousness linked to ‘madness’ emerges as a final pathway of different identified themes, suggesting a potential explanation for the general population attitudes towards the theme of madness.