Are there different sub-speces of the genus Mod?

There used to be a silly thing on the Modculture site; What type of mod are you? Bit tongue-in-cheek really.

Do people think there are different varieties of mods and can it be categorised?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by paul david johnson on October 10, 2012 at 10:39

I personally think there are many different people who have a different idea of what mod is and what it means to them, ie: different dress sense, casual smart, or formal smart, modern mod-trainers and polo and jeans, elitist-very strict and purist ideals, ie: traditional forward thinking and innovative, like the original mods/stylists, and just general mods who arnet to bothered what they wear,ie: parkas with patches, DM'S, and general make jeans, very much revivalist era 40 somethings generally. so to see 1 mod from another you may see a total different outlook and understanding of what mod is, you may see a guy in bespoke suit, tab collar shirt, Italian shoes and a 60;s era mod cut, very 60's era attitude and looking very suave and sharp, or you may see a guy in jeans, adiddas trainers Harrington and a weller type cut, both mod in there own way, but maybe different tastes in music, dress and outlook, some would say the stylist (for want of a better description) is a snob and elitist and yes maybe he is, but then maybe hes just clued up to 60's modernist style, some would say the guy in trainers is a part timer and cant be arsed to make an effort...mod is a huge umbrella now, and even tho i may fall into one catorgary, the next day i can be in another, but its still mod to me...best leave it to the annalists, and do your own thing within your own guidelines i think.....

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Permalink Reply by maxr&b on October 10, 2012 at 12:19

Yeah it's such a wide umbrella you can cherry pick the bits that take your fancy.

I seem to remember different styles of mods in the 80s. You had your neo-psychedelic types that dressed a bit dandy, garage types that were similar,and rude boy/suedehead types. Then you had inmmaculately suited and booted ones who sneered at Fred Perries and only listened to early 60s music and then the scooter boys who started wearing combat trousers, NATO para boots and flight jackets. Probably loads more varieties. This was just as the scene was disintegrating though.

I couldn't understand the scooter boy thing though cos sone of them had been quite sharp mods before their degeneration! Worth a thread of its own that.

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Permalink Reply by paul david johnson on October 10, 2012 at 13:19

yes, i remember some sharp clued up mods becoming scooter boys and being quite offensive to myself and a few mates cos we were still mods, and wearing leather jackets etc, now some of them are born again mods, lol...i admit i was the 60's mod fanatic, everything had to be authentic and reek of the early 60's...stood out in that respect and i became a right loner for a while, proper billy no mates lol...till i noticed that in the late 80's early 90's a new breed came along looking the business and blowing us away in terms of style, but then ofcourse you had the acid jazz thing, another stem if you like from the mod branch, and brit pop etc...all ''mod'' in its way, in terms of atitude more so than actual authenticity, unlike the 90's mods who were the 60's looking equivalent and forward thinking without the need for britpop and acid jazz, etc, tho some liked it ofcourse...

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Permalink Reply by paul david johnson on October 10, 2012 at 13:23

is it possible to distinguish what is mod now ? are we seeing (not for the 1st time, as we have stated) many branches and outlooks under the banner of mod, looking differnet, differnt tatstes etc, but still undeniably 'mod' ? maybe its cos mod, has become almost spiritual, (getting heavy here lol) and is al encompassing in many forms, but still the same thing...fuq me its confusing...lol...

its mod, end of.

thats settled it for me, no more headaches pondering it...lol

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Permalink Reply by Gordon on October 10, 2012 at 13:41

Just be your self folks.

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Permalink Reply by Chris Casey on October 10, 2012 at 21:48

Gordon : "Just be yourself folks"...!

Paul David Johnson :"Do your own thing within your own guidelines.."!

That's absolutely it!

As you say, PDJ, there are many different ideas of what makes Mod Mod. It is a very wide umbrella (to quote maxr&b)---or, as others have said "a broad church". If it wasn't it wouldn't be Mod, anymore. Mod was always supposed to be about innovation and change---keeping an eye to one sort of groove or outlook but moving forward, always.

In the end it is all down to the individual and how they feel about it all, I think.

Categorizing makes some folks feel good or comfortable, I guess; but, it doesn't mean all that much, in my estimation.

But, that is just my opinion, of course.

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Permalink Reply by Gordon on October 11, 2012 at 0:23

I agree.

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Permalink Reply by Clem Eakle on October 11, 2012 at 1:07

Wow I don't like being so agreeable, but dang, I agree too... Derr.
But yeah, I mean, every mod should I would hope, be of a different variety. It's one of the things that makes it so good. I like variety, variety is the best.

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Permalink Reply by Nicky Bubbles on October 11, 2012 at 10:10

Loads of styles as part of the massive Mod umbrella these days. Trying to categorise will take you forever as everyone will have their own take on it!

I recall the article on Modculture. I chuckled. Then realised I fit into more than one of those categories.

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Permalink Reply by Mod Goddess on October 11, 2012 at 10:37

I remember it too Nicky! I don't I even bothered to dignify myself answering it, but I may have to think carefully on this one! ;-)