Marxist view on youth culture Flashcards
Gramsci
Neo- Marxist
Hegemony = Ruling class control over the working class without force . It is a similar idea to false class consciousness in that it explains how working class individuals come to support the very system that exploits them
- young working class are the hardest to control as they don’t have responsibility
- rebellion and resistance are as a result of this power
CCCS ( Centre for Contemporary Cultural Analysis)
- Neo marxism
- Looked at spectacular youth subcultures - considering the impact of social class and the economic situation of young people’s styles
Brake ( evaluation )
Middle class also had subcultures such as hippies which were largely ignored
- they lived on benefits
- rejected impure foods but took synthesised street drugs
- were disdainful of technology but yet listened to music on big sound systems
Reimer (evaluation )
Central feature of youth culture is the search for fun and excitement not to do with class
Jefferson
Teddy boys
- high employment so working class youths has jobs and money but a few opportunities to progress
- smart suits and cowboy style designed to show they were as good as their middle class peers ( looked up to them )
Hebdige (mods)
Mods
- also has jobs and money but felt excluded
- smart italian suits and cool scooters to show they were as good
Hebdige ( punks )
- still high unemployment but also media led youth culture directing youth what to wear , listen
- led to resistance against the system
Bricolage - DIY style in terms of clothing and music e.g paper clips as accessories
Clarke
Skinheads
- Economic recession , high unemployment
- expressed working class identity through their style of big boots and army wear showing pride
Cohen
As a result of their feelings of being threatened they focused on reclaiming territory
- racist views , problems with immigration and competition through jobs
Brake
Magical solutions
- young people are powerless but members of a youth culture allows people to believe they will be different to their parents generation
- It has no basis in reality
Frith
Creation of subcultures was a reaction to high unemployment and poverty among council estates where the young were looking for something to focus on
Thornton ( evaluation )
Studied club cultures
- Because youth are largely exempt from adult financial commitments such as bills , mortgages or rent , the vast majority do enjoy a short period of freedom
- The very poorest can partake in club culture
McRobbie and Garber (evaluation)
Girls were absent from most research on youth cultures
- marxists only focused on class
Laing ( evaluation )
evaluating Hebdige
- punk was seen as working class but found most students were from art school which is seen as middle class
