I'm Not Okay: An Emo Retrospective
An exhibition by the Museum of Youth Culture
A pilot exhibition exploring the rise of Britain’s Y2K lost subculture: Emo. Focusing on the first-generation Emo scene from 2004 to 2009.
The exhibition highlights a pivotal era when bands like My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, and Finch sparked a transatlantic exchange, fuelling a distinct UK movement led by acts such as Funeral for a Friend. The ethos of emo resonated deeply with a generation, channeling collective teenage melancholy into a transatlantic subculture that thrived in cyberspace just as well as in the basement venues of grotty pubs. With one foot IRL and the other in MySpace, Emo wasn’t just a scene —it was the only way of living, the only way we could envision our futures.
Featuring personal photos snapped on early digital and mid-00s phone cameras, content for this exhibition has been digitally unearthed by the Museum of Youth Culture from old hard drives and Photobucket accounts.
Barbican Music Library
Location
The Barbican Libraries are located on Level 2 within the Barbican. They can be accessed from the main building via stairs or lifts from Level G or via Frobisher Crescent from the highwalks.
Address
Level 2, Barbican Centre
Silk Street, London
EC2Y 8DS
Public transport
The Barbican is widely accessible by bus, tube, train and by foot or bicycle. Plan your journey and find more route information in ‘Your Visit’ or book your car parking space in advance.
