"driven" (and, also on 'unfun,' "seethruskin") was one of a spate of anti-rape/anti-pornography/anti-objectification-of-women songs that post-punk bands all seemed to be writing around the same time in the late '80s. another example is fugazi's "suggestion," released in 1988 on the 'fugazi' ep, which could be considered the template. a reaction to the testosterone overload of second-wave hardcore (cf. washington d.c.'s revolution summer)? a statement of solidarity with the nascent riot grrrl movement beginning to cohere around bands like bikini kill and bratmobile? an honest attempt by awkward, culturally aware teenage boys to navigate the tricky terrain of sexuality in a conscientious way (see also "want," the aforementioned "seethruskin," the entire early green day discography...)? all of the above, probably.
"driven" (and, also on 'unfun,' "seethruskin") was one of a spate of anti-rape/anti-pornography/anti-objectification-of-women songs that post-punk bands all seemed to be writing around the same time in the late '80s. another example is fugazi's "suggestion," released in 1988 on the 'fugazi' ep, which could be considered the template. a reaction to the testosterone overload of second-wave hardcore (cf. washington d.c.'s revolution summer)? a statement of solidarity with the nascent riot grrrl movement beginning to cohere around bands like bikini kill and bratmobile? an honest attempt by awkward, culturally aware teenage boys to navigate the tricky terrain of sexuality in a conscientious way (see also "want," the aforementioned "seethruskin," the entire early green day discography...)? all of the above, probably.