subcultures Flashcards
what are subcultures
postmodernists - contemporary society characterised by cultural diversity - against functionalist view of unified common culture - cultures have been fragmented into competing subcultures
based on social class, age, religion, ethnicity, taste
may subscribe to own cultural values, norms and customs
why do subcultures develop
large, complex societies offer a wide range of meanings, values and norms
some groups feel alienated from dominant culture
some groups attempt to hold on to a minority traditional culture within a dominant culture eg religion
way to gain different identity
gain status
political resistance
subcultures as a source of opposition
willis - the lads - anti-school subculture emerged amongst w/c boys in which resistance to schooling was high values
hall and jefferson - youth subcultures and different styles eg mods and punks - all forms of resistance to dominant culture
youth subcultures - functionalism
period of transition - industrial societies no longer have initiation ceremonies to make transition to adulthood - cause uncertainty about identity - peer group support during transition
growth of diversity - all members of society share value consensus - in complex societies - difficult so subcultures form
status frustations - Cohen - some groups find it difficult to gain status because of position - suffer status frustration - alternative means to gain status
youth subcultures - functionalism - eval
doesnt explain why some people within a group join subcultures and others dont - some w/c boys conform
interactionists criticise the functionalist view of determinism - young men seen as having little choice in response to social position
youth subcultures - neo-marxism
hall and jefferson - ruling class impose norms and values of dominant ideology onto w.c - hegemony
passive and conform
some groups alienated - especially during crises in capitalism
form oppositional subcultures as political reistance
youth subcultures - neo-marxism eval
not all subcultures can be seen as a resistance
some subcultures that start as resistant are incorporated into mainstream society
youth subcultures - interactionism
labelling theory - Becker - once individual labelled - respond by internalising label - self-fulfilling prophecy
powerful labels become master status - some may be excluded from society
those with similar label share deviant norms and values - subcultures develop
youth subcultures - interactionism eval
interactionists accused of determinism - not everyone who is negatively labelled forms a self-fulfilling prophecy or joins a subculture
structural theorists argue interactionists overlook powerful structural factors that drive information of subcultures eg social position
youth subcultures - postmodernism
subcultures no longer exist
replaced by neo-tribes - identity constructed through consumption
youth subcultures - postmodernism eval
other sociologists argue social inequalities continue to drive the formation of subcultures eg Sewell
youth subcultures - feminism
absence of girls - bedroom culture
analysis of girls is absent - seen in background
girls create a bedroom culture - Garber and McRobbie
girl subcultures are increasing eg ladette
social class and youth cultures
centre for contemporary cultural studies - neo-marxist group - social class and feeling of deprivation lead to subcultures - resistance to capitalism system - using fashion music ect
Hebdige - incorporation - fashion drawn into mainstream so lose extreme appeak
cccs neo-marxism - clarke - skinhead culture - exaggerated w/c masculinity - attitudes aggressive and racist - identity under threat due to economic conditions
cccs neo-marxism - cohen - skinhead - result of feeling threatened - football hooliganism — ownership of ground
social class and youth subcultures eval
despite CCCS discussing social class
Thornton - research on club cultures - youth exempt from adult financial commitments - enjoy period of relative freedom
Unemployment and poverty widespread
upper class subcultures
traditional upper class, owners of industry, stars of intertainment
Scott - key features
- primary socialisation through family life - close-knit kinships
- secondary socialisation through elite schools
- combination of primary and secondary socialisation produces cultural capital - high culture appreciation
- military service
- employment of staff eg cooks
- task for high culture
- particular codes of etiquette, manners
- leisure activities such as tennis and polo
- sense of leadership and superiority
