Punk’s Not Dead: Riot Women Review
Trent Loom reviews Riot Women, the latest work by Sally Wainwright, known for Happy Valley. Without having watched Happy Valley, the review places Riot Women within the broader screen entertainment punk genre.
Influences and Context
Riot Women draws clear inspiration from Nida Manzoor’s acclaimed Channel 4 sitcom We Are Lady Parts (2021–2024). This, in turn, was influenced by Eyad Zehra’s 2010 film adaptation of The Taqwacores, based on Michael Muhammad Knight’s 2004 novel of the same name.
"The Taqwacores depicted an imaginary American Muslim punk scene, which inspired the real genre known as Taqwacore, championed by bands like The Kominas."
We Are Lady Parts follows an all-female British Muslim punk band confronting challenges within the music industry while facing societal oppression stemming from patriarchy, poverty, and Islamophobia.
Summary of Key Themes
- Cultural Representation: Highlights a distinct Muslim punk identity.
- Social Issues: Explores patriarchy, poverty, and Islamophobia affecting marginalized groups.
- Genre Evolution: Tracks punk’s influence from fiction to real-world musical movements.
Riot Women continues this lineage by exploring punk themes through a modern lens, focusing on women's struggles and empowerment in a difficult social landscape.
Author’s summary: Riot Women blends punk culture and social commentary, portraying the resilience of women navigating oppression within a nuanced contemporary setting.