Postmodernist view on Youth cultures

Question 1

Manchester Institute of Popular Culture (MIPS)

Answer 1

Research on club cultures :
- No clear gender , class or ethnic distinctions could be found .
- Role of the media as an integral part of club culture

Question 2

Thornton (1976)

Answer 2

Subcultural capital
- Influencer by Bourdieus’ educational capital
- Media can be seen as subcultural capital
- “being in the know about what is in or out on the subcultural scene”
- Clubbers use subcultural capital to gain status and distinguish themselves and being more authentic

Question 3

Redhead (1990)

Answer 3

Idea of authentic subcultures that develop from outside of media could no longer be sustained and now subcultures are formed through the media

Question 4

Maffesoli (1996)

Answer 4

Neo tribes
- Refers to much loosely organised group with no fixed memberships
- Group members are not formed on the basis of social categories e .g. social class , but are formed to have fun and experiment

Question 5

Bennett (1999)

Answer 5

Neotribes
- Based on fashion , music and lifestyle
- No shared core values such as political beliefs

Question 6

Polhemus (1994)

Answer 6

Fluidity and Supermarket of style :
- Youths can create identities by picking and mixing from various cultures , fashion , lifestyle and music .
- Lots of choices today - commitment to one style is less common
- Style is more important than substance