Iain Chambers, when talking about 'revivals' in general, makes a remark that is highly relevant to modern Rockabilly culture;
"The idea of 'revival', so central to the cyclical novelty of clothing and contemporary imagery, has nothing to do with history. A revival does not set out to rediscover or faithfully quote a historical moment; rather, it revisits, recycles, re-presents a particular look, a sartorial gesture that has become part of the timeless wardrobe of contemporary mythology."
Today's rockabilly, you could say, is retro 'with a twist.' Drea Morsby (who I contacted and have permission to mention her) is a Brisbane model and artist belonging to the Rockabilly culture. The photos of her included below support Chambers' idea that a 'revival' isn't based on an effort to relive history. While these images have heavy rockabilly connotations, when considered, they are barely reminiscent of the era they are influenced by. Tattoos were considered taboo on women in the 1950s, and while pin-up girls were common, the car, clothing and hairstyle featured in the second image don't fit into the same time period accurately.
The same is evident in today's Rockabilly music; while directly influenced by the Rockabilly genre, often today's Rockabilly-style songs are blends of different parts of the original era's music and therefore don't make sense from a historical stand point.
Bibliography
Chambers, Iain. “Maps for the metropolis: A possible guide to the present.” Cultural Studies (1987) 1: 1, 1- 21, Routledge, London UK. Accessed 5 May, 2011.
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