Having Rich Stemme speak to our class and share his insights on the realities of the artistic world was both enlightening and humbling. I am so grateful that an individual such as himself who has accomplished so much and left such a creative impact on this world, would take the time to speak to us, answer our questions, share his work, and even create a slideshow presentation for us! What resonated with me the most was how driven Stemme has always been from such a young age. Even as a child, he went above and beyond to connect with punk artists, doing what others weren’t willing to do in order to build relationships with aspiring artists who would later influence his own craft. He did this at a time when social media was nonexistent, thus, making communication so much more difficult. We, on the other hand, live in an era where every resource is readily available to us, yet many of us lack the drive to fully embrace these opportunities and put in the necessary work. Stremme’s journey, therefore, inspired me to seize the opportunities laid in front of me, refusing to let fear or uncertainty define me or hinder my potential, as it is clear that fear did not hold Stremme back. In fact it was a driving force behind his success, only propelling his career further. He was fearless, constantly exploring new artistic realms and following his curiosity wherever it led him. Despite losing money along the way, he remained a free spirit, not guided or blinded by materialism, but rather pushed by his deep passion for art to continue pursuing his passion. His commitment to his craft continues to inspire younger generations, as he refuses to let the punk rock movement fade into history. Stremme pushes the boundaries of what is traditionally accepted and in doing so, challenges societal norms on all fronts, musical and moral. Punk rock is not simply a genre, it is a way of life, a bold expression of one’s beliefs without fear of judgment. It is a free space, allowing anyone and everyone to carve out what they want, without being confined by societal standards and limitations. It is truly a liberating philosophy that may be difficult to imagine, but embracing it could unlock a sense of freedom that allows us to soar, just as Stemme’s vision has driven him throughout his own artistic journey.

This entry is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International license.