“Feminism, Punk Rock, and Subcultural Living”: The Forming of Courtney Love and Hole

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article analyzes the sources of the anger in the early work of Courtney Love and rock band Hole, which—in contrast to much of today’s mainstream rock, pop, and indie music, which more often draws from singer-songwriter, country, and electronic forms—was inspired by confrontational punk, underground, and post-punk influences. I argue that Hole’s early work, especially debut album Pretty on the Inside, constitutes a coherent protest against the broken promises of the 1960s counterculture and the second wave of feminism. I consider the price paid by Love for playing the “angry woman” and lessons for today’s artists.