Postmodernism

Question 1

Thornton and Redhead (1990)

Answer 1

the idea of authentic subcultures that develop outside of the media’s influence could no longer sustain from the 80s onwards and that subcultures or ‘club cultures’ are formed within and through the media because young people are immersed in a media-driven reality.

Question 2

Maffesoli (1996)

Answer 2

uses the term ‘neo-tribe’ instead of subculture because it refers to a much more loosely organised grouping with no fixed membership or deep commitment. Young people merely ‘flit’ from tribe to tribe experiencing different clothes and music. These tribes are used to satisfy the individuals needs and so exclusive thus a young person being part of more than one tribe simultaneously.

Question 3

Bennett (1999)

Answer 3

found neo-tribes in newcastle nightclubs based around fashion music and lifestyle. Individuals didn’t define themselves as members of any particular group. He argues that ‘subculture’ rigidly links music and style preferences whereas neo-tribalism recognises the fluid and shifting nature of these preferences.

Question 4

Polhemus (1994)

Answer 4

wrote about ‘supermarket of style’ where youths create identities by picking and mixing from various cultures, fashions and lifestyles. Due to all these choices available, commitment to one style is less common and youths tend not to give themselves rigid labels.

Question 5

MIPS (late 1980s and 90s)

Answer 5

researched club cultured and noticed that among clubbers, there was no clear gender, class or ethnic distinction but instead very diverse.