🤟1.2 YOUTH SUBCULTURES

Youth subcultures are distinct groups of young people within the broader youth population that form based on shared interests, values, styles, behaviors, and identities. These subcultures often develop as a response to mainstream culture, offering members a sense of belonging and a way to express their individuality or resistance to societal norms. They can be associated with specific music genres, fashion trends, ideologies, or activities.

Subcultures are cultural groups that represent the marginalized and minority cultures. It’s not often you see them in dominant mass media discourse, and when you see them they’re often shown in stereotypical manners.

- Chris Drew

While often viewed with some suspicion by older generations, youth subcultures play a crucial role in the cultural landscape by influencing fashion, music, and social norms.

Image taken from https://www.discoversociology.co.uk/youth-subcultures/Classic-youth-subcultures.

Key characteristics

• Shared Identity: Members identify with a common set of interests, beliefs, or activities that differentiate them from the broader youth population.

• Distinctive Style: This can include unique clothing, music preferences, and other aesthetic choices.

• Alternative Values: Often, youth subcultures challenge or diverge from the values and norms of mainstream society, wanting to express individuality, creativity, or dissent.

• Social Bonding: Subcultures generally provide a sense of community and support among members.

Should you FIT IN or STAND OUT? - Clip from BBC Archive, 1983.

The examples listed in the following page illustrate the diversity in interests, aesthetics, and values that youth subcultures encompass, reflecting different ways young people seek to define themselves and connect with like-minded individuals.

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Sources

📚BibliographyWebliography