culture, subculture, crime and delinquency Flashcards
what is the definition of culture?
culture is defined as the entire way of life, activities, beliefs, and customs of a people, group, or society
why is it important to define culture before examining subcultures?
defining culture is essential to understand the broader context in which subcultures exist and how they relate to the dominant culture
what does Raymond Williams suggest about culture?
Williams suggests that there are different cultures, and within a large group, there may be a mass culture that is shared among its members
what is the second definition of culture according to Hall and Neitz?
- ideas and knowledge (correct, wrong, or unverifiable beliefs) and methods for doing things
- humanly fabricated tools (like shovels, sewing machines, cameras, and computers)
- the products of social action that can be used in further social life
what are the three components of culture in the sociological definition?
- Ideas and knowledge
- Humanly fabricated tools
- Products of social action
what are subcultures?
subcultures are formed and influenced by a variety of factors, creating a distinct group within a national culture
how does Gordon define subcultures?
Gordon defines subcultures as a subdivision of a national culture, composed of various social situations such as class, status, ethnic background, regional and urban or rural residence, and religious affiliation, which together create a functional unity with an integrated impact on individuals
what factors influence the formation of subcultures?
class, status, ethnic background, regional and urban or rural residence, and religious affiliation
what does the concept of functional unity refer to in subcultures?
functional unity in subcultures signifies the coming together of various influences like class, status, ethnicity, and residence to shape the behaviours of individuals within that subculture
how does the functional unity of a subculture impact participating individuals?
the functional unity of a subculture influences how individuals behave, guiding their actions and interactions based on shared norms and identity within the subculture
what role does the combination of factors in a subculture play in shaping individual experiences?
the combination of factors in a subculture not only defines the subculture itself but also significantly influences the thoughts, behaviours, and experiences of individuals who belong to it
what did David Downes examine regarding youth gangs?
Downes examined the role subcultures play in the formation of gangs and why these gangs engage in delinquent behaviours
how does Downes argue subcultures form?
Downes argued that subcultures form in two different ways:
1. they develop outside of mainstream culture
2. they originate from within mainstream culture
what is the significance of understanding how subcultures form in relation to gangs?
understanding how subcultures form helps explain the motivations behind gang behaviour and the social dynamics that contribute to juvenile delinquency
what is the first type of subculture that originates from within mainstream culture?
the first type is a positive subculture that emerges within occupational groups, responding positively to mainstream values and norms. These subcultures are considered part of mainstream culture
what characterises the second type of subculture that originates from within mainstream culture?
negative subculture that forms in direct opposition to mainstream culture. This includes juvenile delinquent subcultures, whose values are the antithesis of mainstream cultural values and challenge them in various ways
how do positive and negative subcultures differ in relation to mainstream culture?
positive subcultures align with and support mainstream values, while negative subcultures reject and oppose those values, often leading to delinquent behaviours
what are negative subcultures associated with?
negative subcultures are associated with resistance and youth
how do negative subcultures distinguish themselves from mainstream culture?
they are fairly easy to identify because, in rebelling, they actively seek to distinguish themselves from the main culture
who highlights the identifiability of subcultures?
Cohen emphasises how subcultures are usually very identifiable, which we will explore in greater detail later
how can a subcultural group be identified?
a subcultural group can be identified by their appearance, including their clothing, posture, gait, likes and dislikes, conversation topics, and expressed opinions
what does Albert Cohen state about actor behaviour in relation to subcultures?
cohen explains that an actor learns that the behaviour signifying membership in a particular role includes various aspects like the kind of clothes worn and personal expressions
why was style important to early thinkers on subcultures?
Style was crucial because these writers focused on elements like image, demeanour, and argot as key identifiers of subcultures
what were these early writers interested in regarding subcultures?
they were interested in what gives rise to the particular image, demeanour, and argot displayed by subcultures, aiming to understand how these elements help subcultures stand out
how is style viewed in the context of subcultures?
style is always symbolic in the context of subcultures, serving as a means of expression and distinction from mainstream culture
what does “image” refer to in the context of subcultures?
“Image” refers to how individuals in a subculture dress, style their hair, and choose their accessories
what is meant by “demeanour” in subcultures?
“Demeanour” encompasses the expressions, posture, and type of gait that members of a subculture exhibit
what does “argot” signify in subcultures?
“Argot” signifies the unique way in which members of a subculture speak, including their accent, vocabulary, and use of slang
are the elements of image, demeanour, and argot random?
no, none of these elements are random; they are specifically chosen to symbolise resistance against mainstream culture
what is a key characteristic of subcultures?
subcultures are generally deviant, meaning they deviate from the norms of the main culture
are most subcultures delinquent?
very few subcultures are actually delinquent, despite being considered deviant
who were the first youth subcultures mentioned in the evolution of subcultures?
the Teddy Boys were the first, followed by Mods and Rockers, Hippies, Punks, Skinheads, and others
what time period did the British Teddy Boys dominate?
The British Teddy Boys were most dominant from 1953 through to 1955
what are notable characteristics of the Teddy Boys?
they had a very distinctive style and a very distinctive gait
how were Teddy Boys described in the 1954 Newsweek article?
they were described as “the nattiest young men in Britain,” slouching through the dank mews of Shoreditch and over littered bomb sites
what historical reference is made about the Teddy Boys in the quote?
they are referred to as “Edwardians,” indicating their style was reminiscent of the Edwardian era
what term is used to describe Teddy Boys in the context of their environment?
they are referred to as “the dead end kids of London,” highlighting their social situation and urban environment
what was the process of becoming a Teddy Boy?
it involved a two-stage process where young people adopted a particular sartorial aesthetic, and society recognised them as Teds
who were the original Edwardians that championed the Edwardian look in the post-war period?
they were young, recently demobilized, fashion-conscious former officers of guards regiments
what was the broader social context for the emergence of the Teddy Boys?
there was a comprehensive attempt to restore some kind of high society among the traditional elites in post-war London
how does Jefferson describe the Teddy Boys’ style?
A: Jefferson describes the Ted style as a reflection of their “all-dressed-up-and-nowhere-to-go” experience of Saturday evening
what allowed Teddy Boys to adopt an upper-class image?
the relative affluence of the Teddy Boys enabled them to “buy into” an upper-class image
what does the Teddy Boys’ style signify about their social experience?
their style signifies a sense of frustration and unfulfilled aspirations, as they dressed elegantly but often had limited opportunities for social engagement
how did the Teddy Boys emerge?
the Teddy Boys emerged as a subculture influenced by the socio-economic conditions of the time
what socio-economic period contributed to the rise of the Teddy Boys?
the post-war period of prosperity, characterised by an economic boom, played a crucial role in their emergence
how did the economic boom affect young people during this time?
the economic boom provided young people with increased disposable income, allowing them to express themselves through fashion and style
what music genre did the Teddy Boys identify with?
The Teddy Boys identified with early 50s rock ‘n’ roll music
which track introduced rock ‘n’ roll to youth around the world in 1956?
the track “Rock Around the Clock” by Bill Haley and the Comets introduced rock ‘n’ roll to youth worldwide
what impact did “Rock Around the Clock” have on cinema?
the song’s popularity led to a significant increase in cinema receipts, prompting producers to rush out a genre of movies featuring rock ‘n’ roll stars
who were some of the Teddy Boys’ heroes?
the Teddy Boys admired rising US film stars like James Dean, known for portraying various criminals
what kind of disturbances did Teddy Boys often cause in cinemas?
the Teddy Boys often caused miniature riots, slashing cinema seats and creating chaos
where was the home ground of the South London Teddy Boys?
the Elephant and Castle was known as the home ground of the South London Teddy Boys
how did newspapers report the riots at the Elephant and Castle?
newspapers excitedly reported that the riots led to two thousand young people taking to the streets in an orgy of vandalism
what were the actual outcomes of these riots by later standards?
by later standards, the riots seemed mild, with nine arrests, two policemen injured, and some minor property damage, including cups and saucers being thrown
what kind of societal reaction did the Teddy Boys provoke?
thee Teddy Boys caused a huge societal reaction, being labelled as a social evil contaminated by US values
how were the Teddy Boys viewed by the press and parents?
they were almost universally vilified by the press and parents as a symptom of Britain’s impending decline
what negative effects were attributed to rock ‘n’ roll music during this time?
rock ‘n’ roll was said to provoke lawlessness, impair nervous stability, and destroy the sanctity of marriage
how did the perception of musical styles change in relation to the Teddy Boys?
the musical styles associated with the Teddy Boys became demonised as the group itself was demonised
what marked the emergence of the Mods and Rockers?
the emergence of the Mods and Rockers marked a new decade and a new subculture
what was the social origin of the Mods compared to the Rockers?
mods were more likely to be middle-class, usually lower middle-class, whereas Rockers were predominantly working-class
how did the societal backgrounds of Mods and Rockers differ?
the societal backgrounds differed significantly, with Mods often having more middle-class roots and Rockers coming from working-class backgrounds
what defined the Mods as a group?
mods were defined by their clothes, taste in music, and method of transport
what was the typical fashion style of the Mods?
mods sported suits, parka coats, narrow ties, and Levi jeans, along with various hairstyles ranging from short to medium length
where was the cultural centre for Mods?
Carnaby Street was considered the Mecca for Mods
what type of scooters did Mods ride?
mods typically rode scooters, specifically Lambrettas or Vespas
what music did Mods prefer?
mods listened to music from Tamla Motown artists and British groups like The Who and The Kinks
how did Mods sustain their long nights in nightclubs?
mods often took Drynamil pep-up pills, known as ‘Purple Hearts’, which were originally prescribed for anxiety
what was the primary mode of transport for Rockers?
rockers rode motorbikes
what type of clothing did Rockers typically wear?
rockers wore leather clothes, which were always dark coloured
how did Rockers style their hair?
rockers had longer hair, often styled in a ‘quiff’ and usually greased
what music genre were Rockers devoted to?
rockers were devoted to Rock ‘n’ Roll music
where was the central hangout for Rockers?
the ‘Ace Café’ off the North Circular Road in London was their central hangout
how did the Rockers subculture originate?
rockers developed from the ‘Leatherboys’ and ‘Tonup Kids’ of the late 1950s, while Mods emerged in the 1960s
what was the gender composition of both Mods and Rockers?
both groups were predominantly male
what does the term “Mod” imply about the subculture?
“Mod” suggests characteristics like being effeminate, stuck-up, and emulating the middle classes, along with being competitive and snobbish
