Postmodernism

Question 1

What is postmodernism?

Answer 1

An approach which attempts to define how society has progressed to modernity

Question 2

What did Polhemus believe about identity?

Answer 2

Traditional categorisations of identity, such as ethnicity or gender, are now outdated because our identities are vastly inspired by the mass media in a globalised and media-saturated society and the global village that the internet represents. The past and future have dissolved into ‘the now’ and the only way to express ourselves in a ‘kaleidoscopic and enigmatic world’ is through personal appearance where we express our individuality by picking identities in a supermarket of style.

Question 3

What does Hollands and Chanterton (2002) counteract postmodernism?

Answer 3

Challenges the postmodern view, arguing that youth subcultures have not all disappeared. They argue that youth culture today is largely mainstream and corporate, in which challenges the creative identity suggested by neo-tribes.

Question 4

What does Burr (1995) argue about crime and deviance?

Answer 4

It is socially constructed through different contexts and perspectives as certain drugs are criminalised in the UK unlike other countries reflecting the influence of cultural norms and political agendas

Question 5

What does Lyotard (1984) point out?

Answer 5

Contemporary society if fragmented and diverse limiting traditional explanations for crime and deviance. As many online subcultures create different behaviours and norms from offline spaces

Question 6

How does Jameson (1984) focus on the conflicting interpretations of norms and values?

Answer 6

It can be applied to youth subcultures as the media can portray them as a source of innovation or as a threat to social order challenging the idea of grand narratives

Question 7

What does Bourillard (1981) argue about crime and deviance?

Answer 7

The media plays a significant role in shaping perceptions of crime and deviance, contributing to the construction of social reality as certain crimes such as knife crime or terrorism in the UK tabloid newspapers contribute to the construction of social reality

Question 8

What does Bourillard (1981) further argue about crime and deviance?

Answer 8

Media and technology play a central role in shaping identities and subcultures. This can lead to simulacra and hypereality where reality is replaced with representations and simulations creating a blur between them. This can be applied to neo-tribes as they construct hyperrealities through their aesthetic choices, behaviors, and performative practices which aren’t authentic to the individual as it is influenced by cultural references, media representations, and collective fantasies

Question 9

What does Maffesoli (1996) argue about neo - tribes?

Answer 9

Members which are loosely attached o subcultures often being involved in more than one with different individual political goals

Question 10

What did Katz (1988) argue about crime and deviance?

Answer 10

The emotional and experimental aspects of crime through believing crime is appealing for excitement and pleasure not just material gain. Crime can be viewed as a leisure activity, especially for youths to find stimulus against the established social order

Question 11

What does Redhead (1990) argue about crime and deviance?

Answer 11

He identifies the importance of media representation through film, music, videos, and fashion magazines as they play a crucial role in constructing and disseminating subcultural symbols and style codes, influencing young people’s consumption choices and self - presentation

Question 12

What does Polhemus (1994) argue about youth subcultures?

Answer 12

Young people use fashion and style to assert their identities and challenge mainstream norms, viewing subcultural styles as forms of symbolic rebellion against adult authority and societal expectations

Question 13

What does Appadurai (1996) say about crime and deviance?

Answer 13

The impact of globalisation on culture, leading to the proliferation of subcultures that transcend geographical boundaries through global trends

Question 14

How can cosplay act as an example of a neo-tribe?

Answer 14

• based on creating costumes that embody characters and they adopt their behaviors
• connections are formed through cosplay events, conventions, and online forums that foster a strong sense of community as there are no limitations to the community as a form of self-expression through costume, makeup, and photography
• cosplay is ever-changing, reflecting new trends in pop culture and media as they invent with materials and techniques to bring characters to life

Question 15

What does Featherstone (1991) suggest about crime and deviance?

Answer 15

Identities are no longer fixed but are fluid and constantly changing. Neo - tribes as a way to describe youth subcultures reflect fluidity as individuals may participate in multiple groups simultaneously or shift between them based on context

Question 16

What does Foucault (1977) say about crime and deviance?

Answer 16

There is an emphasis on the role of power dynamics and discourse in shaping perceptions of crime and deviance. This can be seen through media representations of immigration and migrant groups creating negative public attitudes as they threaten security and welfare

Question 17

How can club culture link to postmodernists?

Answer 17

• embodies characteristics such as fluid identities, media, consumerism, globalisation, and resistance through expression and connection
• Thornton (1995) views it as a neo-tribe through shared interests, values, and experiences with nightlife to form connections and identity
• Redhead (1990) highlights individuals may adopt different personnas of styles depending on the club or music as a form of experimentation and self-expression
• Hutson (2000) believes it has roots in resistance towards restrictive licensing laws, societal norms, and political oppression

Question 18

What are the strengths of postmodernism?

Answer 18

• it provides a nuanced understanding of motivations of crime as it acknowledges it as complex, the influence of social context and individual interpretations
• it highlights the fragmented nature of contemporary society as it provides a framework to understand how individuals navigate complex social situations and how alienation for dominant norms
• talks about thrill-seeking as a motivation
• the power of the media as they can portray a glorification of risky behavior or demonisation of certain groups to influence perceptions of crime
• they criticise the overemphasis on punishment and deterrence in traditional crime control as it neglects underlying social issues for criminal behavior

Question 19

What are the weaknesses of postmodernism?

Answer 19

• it underestimates how social inequality and economic hardship contribute to crime as it can limit opportunities pushing an individual towards deviant behaviour
• the individual and societal impact of crime may be overshadowed by individual motivations
• it can be challenging to develop effective crime prevention strategies
• focusing on the role of the media could neglect individual agency and the complex social and economic factors
• doesn’t consider structural inequalities
• the emphasis on thrill-seeking and resistance and downplay of the element of agency in criminal behavior