Marxism/ Neo Marxism And The Formation Of Youth Cultre

Question 1

What s marxism view on youth subculture?

Answer 1

Marxism uses a Structuralist and conflict approach which sees society as being based on the exploitation of the working class by capitalists 
The working class are controlled by hegemony (working class’ views are dominated via the media, education and ideas transited by the upper class)

Question 2

Define spectacular youth cub culture

Answer 2

Subcultures that have loyal members. Subculture that has to on distinct norms, values, sense of style and have our. Members of these subcultures express their identity through dress, music and behaviour e.g. skinheads, hippies

Question 3

What does Brake (1984) mean by ‘magical solutions’?

Answer 3

Brake believes that youth subculture provides ‘magical solutions’ to issues the members may face. This is because the youth dont have the power to change society but by joining a subculture it allows them to convince themselves their generation will bring change

Question 4

Criticisms of Marxist view on youth culture?

Answer 4

• they have been criticised for ignoring the important of ethnicity as class is not the only inequality that causes the formation of youth subcultures, e.g. Rastafarianism of Afro-Caribbean children this subculture was created due to ethnicity
• McRobbie (1991) claims that Marxists and Neo-Marxists have largely ignored the role of females in youth subcultures e.g. teddy girls
• functionalists think that Marxists exaggerate the idea of resistance as young people may not always joining a subculture as a form of resistance from the system but instead may join a youth subculture to carve out an identity
• not all youth subcultures came from the working class (e.g. Muggleton states that Marxists don’t consider middle class subcultures such as hippies)

Question 5

What are the Neo-Marxists ideas by Gramsci (1971)?

Answer 5

• Gramsci developed the idea of hegemony
  Hegemony states that youth may consent and believe the false ideas presented by the ruling capitalist society (e.g. through media propaganda) which in turn allows capitalist power to continue without the need for physical force to maintain it. This supports the Marxist idea of ideology where they use propaganda to hide their exploitation of the working class.

Question 6

Advantages of neo -Marxism

Answer 6

1) the neo-Marxist ideas of bricolage is supported by post-modernist sociologists e.g. the pick and mid market of style where subcultures may meter to create their own elements and style e.g. rudeboys may have inspired skin heads and road men

Question 7

What did Hall and Jefferson (1976) state?

Answer 7

• youth culture = resistance to capitalism

- part of the CCCS (centre for contemporary cultural studies)

Question 8

Strengths of Marxists

Answer 8

• CCCS take a holistic approach when considering subcultures as they consider class, dress

Question 9

Describe the neo-Marxist idea of semiology by Barthes

Answer 9

The study of science and hidden meanings through symbols and signs. By breaking down what symbols and signs mean we can find hidden meanings.

Hebdige:
Smaller your sub culture allow for counter hegemonic ideas to develop to go against the ruling upper class, unlike the rest of youth that just accept hegemony and the false ideas presented to them by the upper class