Theoretical views on the role/formation of youth culture Flashcards
1
Q
How do functionalists view youth?
A
- A transitional stage from childhood to adulthood
2
Q
What does Parsons say about youth culture?
Functionalism
A
- ‘Youth’ is a social category that emerged due to changes in the family, associated with the growth of capitalism
- Youth= important transitional stage during a potentially stressful time, when individuals must learn to leave the security of the family (childhood) and gain independence (adulthood)- i.e. through part time work, spending time away from the family= develop skills such as responsibility, money management
- Youth culture is a ‘rite of passage’ (time of change and transition)
3
Q
What does Eisenstadt say about youth culture?
Functionalism
A
- A way of bringing young people into society
- Risk of feelings of stress and anomie
- Youth culture provides a shared set of norms and values, and a sense of belonging
- Provide a safe outlet for tensions that the transition may bring
- Allows youths to ‘let off steam’ and get their frustrations ‘out of the system’
- Period of rebellion is accepted and tolerated as normal and as an essential part of growing up
- Also a means of testing boundaries, and reinforcing acceptable norms and values- contributes to social order
4
Q
What did Abrams say about youth culture?
Functionalism
A
- Emergence of youth culture was linked to their emergence as a distinct group with spending power who started to be targeted by businesses and the media
- Youth culture= created by the media
5
Q
What are the key evaluation points of functionalism?
A
- Functionalists were generalising, and did not account for individual subcultural differences between youths (e.g: class, race, gender)
- Most evidence comes from white, middle-class American males, so analysis is ethnocentric
6
Q
What do Marxists say about youth subcultures?
A
- Explain differences between subcultures by looking at different class and economic situations
- They recognised that members of a subculture faced similar experiences and social conditions facing their social class
7
Q
What did the CCCS say about youth culture?
Marxism
A
- Subcultures could be seen as forms of resistance against the ruling class, and a reaction to the economic situation working class youths experienced
- Jefferson- teddy boys attempted to act/ dress like their middle class peers, in hopes for the same treatment and opportunities
- Hebdige- skinheads formed as a resistance to threats to their w/c identity
8
Q
What are the key evaluation points of marxism/neo-marxism?
A
- Looked for meaning that did not exist (i.e. fashion= fun or to fit in)
- Feminists challenge CCCS for ignoring girls
- Middle class also had subcultures, which were largely ignored by the CCCS
- The majority of youth do not belong to a subculture, so studies only cover a visible minority (spectacular subcultures)
- CCCS work is outdated nowadays- todays youth differs greatly from 1960s/70s youth
9
Q
What do feminists say about youth culture?
A
- Girls have been ignored by other theories, such as marxism
10
Q
What do McRobbie and Garber say about youth culture?
Feminism
A
- Girls were conspicuously absent from most youth subculture research
- When girls did appear in research, they were presented as the ‘passive’ girlfriends
- Researchers were largely male, and found it problematic to relate to teen girls
- Girls negotiate different spaces to those inhaibted by boys, and friendship are more close-knit
11
Q
What are the key evaluation points of feminism?
A
- Recent developments (i.e. postmodernism) mean gender is less significant, and that todays subcultures have no clear gender distinctions, so feminist analysis is less relevant
12
Q
What do postmodernists say about youth culture?
A
- Youth culture has become fragmented and diverse
- Youth style is fluid and changeable and are eclectic
13
Q
What does research into ‘club cultures’ tell us about youth subcultures?
Postmodernism
A
- MIPS (Manchester institute of popular culture) 1980s-90s
- Amongst the clubbers, there were no clear gender, class or ethnic distinctions= diverse
- Emphasises role of media in club cultures
14
Q
What did Thornton say about youth culture?
Postmodernism
A
- Club culture= not a single culture, but a cluster of subcultures related to dance and rave
- Club cultures are ‘taste cultures’ with the key definer being shared taste in music style and its dance culture
- Clubbers use subcultural capital (knowing what is in and what is out) to gain status and distinguish themselves from those who are mainstream followers
- Media= source of subcultural capital- significant role in developing of these club cultures
15
Q
What does Redhead say about youth subcultures
Postmodernism
A
- Authentic subcultures that develop outside the influence of the media can no longer be sustained from 1980s onwards
- Today, young people are immersed in a media-driven reality
16
Q
What are neo-tribes?
Postmodernism
A
- Maffesoli- refers to loosely organised groupings with no fixed membership or deep commitment, youths flit from tribe to tribe, tribes are non exclusive, young people can be part of more than one tribe simultaneously
- Bennett- Newcastle nightclubs found individuals mixed and matched influences and did not define themselves as members of one group, neo-tribes based around fashion, music, lifestyle
17
Q
What is the ‘supermarket of style’?
Postmodernism
A
- Polhemus- youths can create their own identities by picking and mixing from various cultures, fashions, lifestyles, and music
- Commitment to one style is less common, and youths are reluctant to label themselves and restrict their choices
- Style is more important than substance, fluidity and choice are central
18
Q
What are the key evaluation points of postmodernism?
A
- There are still some distinct youth subcultures, so not everyone mixes styles (e.g: goths, emos)
- Idea of ‘ordinary youth’ has been criticsed by the CCCS
- Neo-tribes may be artificial and media-driven (so lack element of choice/fluidity)
- Fluid world of neo-tribes in which everyone is equal is not true for many groups of youths
