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The Decline of Western Civilization (Dir. Penelope Spheeris)

Don Waller, New York Rocker, September 1981

THE DECLINE of Western Civilization, Penelope Spheeris's documentary of the L.A. punk scene circa late '79/early '80, is by turns funny, provocative, pretentious, inspiring, boring, intelligent, uncompromising, and above all, ACCURATE. Like the best rock 'n' roll, the film refuses to propagandize or provide easy answers to the multitude of questions it raises. It demands you make up your own mind about what you see and hear.

Total word count of piece: 649

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