Postmodernism And The Formation Of Youth Culture

Question 1

What does the post modernist theory by Bauman (1993) state?

Answer 1

• society is no longer structured and coherent and as a result youth style has become increasingly fragmented and diverse
• youth types are fluid and changeable in today’s society as youth style is no longer based on factors like class, ethnicity or gender
• young people ‘pick and mix’ elements of their identity so there are no longer distinct and identifiable youth subcultures
• youth are global and connected due to internet and social media so ideas can be shared easily
• youth is individual and do not see their identity as collective. Being part of a group might mean the loss of individuality

Question 2

Evaluation on Bauman’s post modernist ideas of youth?

Answer 2

• cashmore supports the concept of youth hybridity e.g. rap began in 1960s Jamaica and by the 1970s it became promoted worldwide and cultures have fused e.g. Asian rappers (+)
• CCCS have stated that there has been a decrease in spectacular youth subcultures this supports the post modernist idea of individuality and young people picking and choosing their identity - youth style fluidity (+)
• there are still example of spectacular youth subcultures e.g. goths and emos. So youth subculture fluidity is not entirely accurate to describe all youth (-)
• Functionalists disagree as they argue youth culture still exists and is essential for the transition form childhood to adulthood and social integration (-)

Question 3

Describe Polemus’ post modernist theory

Answer 3

• developed the idea of youth style fluidity with the term ‘supermarket of style’- youths can choose from different music tastes, fashions and identities
• supermarket of style means that different styles are fused together e.g. Bhangra beats in pop songs
• supermarket of style has been advanced with technology and communication with the internet
• youth style can be used to represent lifestyle e.g designer brands can indicate wealth and identity

Question 4

Evaluation of Polemus’ super market of style

Answer 4

• lots of evidence to support youth culture has become hybridised and takes elements from global culture e.g. music
• Cooley disagrees the idea of appearance = identity e.g. wearing designer brands = rich, as this could lead to labelling.

Question 5

Describe Maffesoli’s study on Neo-tribes

Answer 5

• he states that youth subcultures no longer exist and are replaced by fluid and open movements called neo-tribes
• youth behaviour is dynamic and always changing
• e.g. punks, goths who have modded into various styles and is no longer a distinct subculture
• Neo tribes link to the idea of hybridised world kid (Luke 2000) this means youngsters with a globalised sense of youth that are connected by physical (face to face interaction) or virtually (through social networks)

Question 6

Evaluation of new Tribes by Maffesoli

Answer 6

• research support from the MIPC, clubbing culture and music brings people together regardless of class, gender or ethnicity which show youth styles are no longer accompanied with those factors (+)
• neo-tribes based on virtual social-networks can lead to problems e.g. online abuse