Youth and Subcultures

Youth and Subcultures

Key Themes in Youth and Subcultures

  • Role of Structural Functionalism and Social Conflict Theory

    • These theories guide the exploration of teenagers, youth, and youth culture.

  • Sociological Examination of Youth Participation in Subcultures

    • Focus on motivations and desires in subcultures such as:

    • Goth

    • Emo

    • Punk

    • Ravers

Examination of Youth Rebellion

  • Dominant Culture’s Influence

    • Capitalism, government, and paternalism impact youth behaviors, leading to:

    • Rebellion against authority

    • Rule-breaking

  • Youth and Consumerism Dynamics

    • Connections between capitalism, consumers, and youth culture include:

    • Framing and marketing practices

    • The concept of “selling out”

    • Youth resistance historically positioned against mainstream consumerism as identity markers.

Case Study: Youth and Consumerism

  • Barbara Wheaton’s Exploration (2003)

    • Book: Subcultural Media and the Discourses of Authenticity

    • Discusses youth negotiating commercialization and commodification of their cultures.

    • Symbolic Consumption

      • Brands adopted by subcultures symbolize sociocultural values but challenge the concept of “authenticity.”

  • Naomi Klein’s Perspective (2000)

    • Book: No Logo

    • In the 1990s, capitalism viewed rebellious youth as marketable and developed lifestyle branding strategies targeting youth within alternative sports.

Examples of Youth Rebellion

  • Skateboarding Culture

    • Reclaimed non-skateboard designated public spaces (e.g., urban architecture):

    • Rails and benches transformed into “skateable” terrain.

    • Subversion of societal expectations and norms.

    • Specific instances include:

    • Usage of public swimming pools during droughts.

    • Reclamation of private backyards.

    • Acts redefine social spaces, challenging middle-class symbols of success.

Consumption vs. Authenticity in Subcultures

  • Skateboarding's Corporate Appropriation

    • Initial authenticity paralleled with genuine rebellion gradually replaced by corporate interests,

    • Development from real deviant experiences to scripted portrayals of rebellion by corporate powers.

Folk Devils and Moral Panic

Concept of Folk Devils and Deviance

  • Symbolic Challenge to Dominant Culture

    • Youth as a reflection of a challenge to dominant norms, necessitating management through incorporation into mainstream culture.

Understanding Moral Panic

  • Moral Panic Definition

    • Competently analyzed by McRobbie and Thorton:

    • A term used by journalists to describe instances incited by politicians, media, and commercial promoters.

  • Stan Cohen’s Research (1972)

    • Focus on violence between mods and rockers in 1960s Britain.

    • Media's portrayal contributed to heightened public fear surrounding youth subcultures.

The Sociology of Youth Culture

  • Defining Folk Devils

    • A group or individual viewed as a societal threat (Cohen, 1972).

    • Framed by social forces (media, government) to appear dangerous.

  • Moral Panic Formation Stages

    • Exaggeration and Distortion

    • Incidents misrepresented, leading to ignored facts.

    • Prediction

    • Media suggests that these incidents will repeat.

    • Symbolization

    • Neutral terms develop negative connotations, creating stereotypes that instill fear.

Real-World Implications of Moral Panic

  • Moral Entrepreneurs

    • Represent some groups as folk devils, posing threats to societal values.

  • Consequences of Moral Panic

    • Over-exaggerated public response that may not correlate to actual crimes or deviance, mistakenly creating a cycle of fear and sensationalism.