Postmodernists on Youth Culture Flashcards
What is the Postmodernist view on youth culture?
They believe youth styles are more fluid and changeable, they mix things from many different sources (e.g. race, gender, and social class divides)
Youth culture has become increasingly fragmented and diverse than it was before (e.g. the spectacular youth subcultures)
MIPS ‘CLUB CULTURE’
Study of youth culture in the late 80’s and 90’s showed there wasn’t a clear gender, class or ethnic distinction found due to the clubber’s diversity.
The media was integral to the club cultures during this time.
THORNTON ‘SOCIAL LOGIC OF SUBCULTURES’
Club culture isn’t a single culture but is a cluster of subcultures related to dance and rave.
They are ‘taste cultures’ with a key shared taste in music styles and the surrounding dance culture.
REDHEAD ‘SUBCULTURES OUTSIDE THE MEDIA’
Subcultures and club cultures are formed within and through the media’s influence.
Young people are immersed in a media driven reality and the media drives the subcultures it creates.
POLHEMUS ‘SUPERMARKET OF STYLE’
Youths create identities by picking and mixing from various cultures, fashion, lifestyle, and music.
There’s no commitment and one style is less common.
HOLLAND AND CHATTERTON ‘CORPORATE YOUTH CULTURE’
A majority of youth today is actually characterized by commercial chart music, a drinking culture and a pleasure-seeking behaviour.
Alternative cultures exist with independently run values catering for less mainstream tastes.
BENNETT ‘NIGHTCLUBS’
Neo-tribes found based on fashion and lifestyle with no shared values.
Individuals mixed and matched but didn’t define themselves to any group.
Neo-tribes recognized shifting nature and fluidity of the subculture they associated themselves with.
MAFFESOLI ‘NEO-TRIBE’
Neo-tribes are loosely organized groups with no fixed membership or deep commitment.
Youths fit into these tribes and can be part of more than one tribe simultaneously.
EVALUATION OF THE POSTMODERNIST VIEW
They accept the key role the media plays in driving the development of subcultures.
There are small distinct youth subcultures with clear styles and music alliances that they acknowlege.
