by Jeff Sorley
Further legitimizing (or deligitimizing?) punk culture as an integral part of Americana, The Library of Congress' National Film Registry has added The Decline of Western Civilization to their list of “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant†films. This allows the 1981 documentary focusing on the late-70s/early-80s Los Angeles punk scene to be preserved by the U.S. government for the benefit of future generations. Decline joins a select list of 700 other films, including new inductees The Breakfast Club and Rushmore.