Subcultures Based On Ethnicity

Question 1

Hebdige

Answer 1

Believed that Rastafarians were a religious group which emerged in Jamaica in the 1930s
- Rastafarian movement was then adopted by black youths living in the U.K.in the 1970s and became a subculture because
• of their alternative style (dreadlocks, green red and gold colour scheme)
•of their deviant behaviour (smoking weed)
•of their music tastes (reggae)

States that black youths felt excluded and alienation from white British culture - adopted a Rasta culture in response to this

Black youths were also victims of racism (police/employers) so by adopting this subculture they were able to operate a resistance to racism

HOWEVER Hebdige didn’t actually speak to Rastafarians so his research could be criticised.

Question 2

Sivanandan

Answer 2

Jamaican culture of rastafarians provided context for second generation immigrants in Britain- gave them a source of identity-distinctive from whites

Many Rastafarians felt repressed by Britains economic policies- felt their fight against capitalism and racism was a continuation of their struggle against the white slave owner

Question 3

Bennett

Answer 3

1st generation Asians came to Britain - Bhangra music was a large part of their identity

Now adapted to fit lifestyles of second/third generation Asians (blend of Bhangra, reggae and rap styles)

Based less on resistance and racism and more on using ethnic cultures to construct new forms of Asian identity.