Youth subcultures have always attracted a lot of attention, both from the media and from academics. It is not surprising because members of youth subcultures tend to be highly visible and often are responsible for moral panics. Secondly, youth cultures have been considered to be “the product or epitome of social change, or a barometer of future changes”. That is why, in the twentieth century, in the time of social, economic and political changes, youth became an object of sociological, cultural, and psychological analyses. The concept of subculture has been an attractive model for explanation and analysis of youths’ individual and collective behaviours in sociology for a diversity of theoretical positions. It is noticeable that every successive paradigm has tried to criticize or to show its dominance and authority over previous understandings. The term subculture was initially used in 1950’s in the works of the Chicago School in the US to refer to the urban gangs. In British subcultural theory has begun with the studies of sociologists who sought to explain delinquent behaviour of young people and consistently relied on psychology and psychoanalysis. But the most influential body of work is New Subcultural Theory that was created during the 1970’s by the researchers from the Centre for Contemporary Cultural Studies (CCCS) at Birmingham University. It has been strongly criticized but is still considered to be the ground work on subcultures. However, according to Rupa Huq, the term subculture has in many ways come of age. There are a lot of academics that criticize the writings of the CCCS and have developed postmodern theories on subcultures. They suggest new definitions and explanations of subcultures or even claim that the notion of subculture cannot be applied anymore to describe the culture of today’s youth.
In this paper, I will introduce some different strands of the subculture theory about youth during the twentieth century. I will briefly introduce the theory of delinquency of American and British sociologists, and then I will give an overview of the Cultural Studies approach from the University of Birmingham in the 1970’s and briefly indicate its weaknesses. Then I will introduce the approach of the contemporary subcultural theory and explain the concepts of clubculture, neo-tribe and lifestyle which are considered to be alternative to the concept of subculture.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- The theories of delinquency
- New Subcultural Theory
- Phil Cohen
- "Resistance through rituals"
- Dick Hebdige "Subculture: the meaning of style"
- Angela McRobie
- The critique
- Contemporary theories of subcultures
- Clubcultures
- The theory of 'Neo-tribes'
- The theory of lifestyle
- Conclusion
- References
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to provide an overview of subculture theories concerning youth in the 20th century. It examines the evolution of these theories, tracing their development from early functionalist approaches focused on delinquency to more sophisticated perspectives within Cultural Studies. The paper also explores contemporary alternatives to the concept of subculture.
- The development of subcultural theories from early delinquency studies to contemporary perspectives.
- The influence of class, social relations, and production on the formation of youth subcultures.
- The role of cultural artifacts, leisure activities, and symbolic expression in shaping youth identities.
- Critiques of traditional subcultural theories and the emergence of alternative frameworks.
- The application of various theoretical lenses, such as Marxism, Gramscian hegemony, and structuralism, to the understanding of youth subcultures.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the paper by highlighting the enduring academic and media interest in youth subcultures, their association with moral panics, and their role as indicators of social change. It briefly introduces the evolution of subculture theory, from its early applications in the study of urban gangs to the influential work of the Birmingham Centre for Contemporary Cultural Studies (CCCS) and subsequent critiques. The chapter also outlines the paper's structure and scope, promising an exploration of various theoretical strands concerning youth subcultures in the 20th century.
The theories of delinquency: This chapter delves into the origins of subcultural theory, tracing its roots in the works of American and British sociologists studying delinquency. It emphasizes the early focus on class, delinquency, culture, and leisure, highlighting the impact of post-World War II societal changes on the emergence of youth as a distinct social problem. The chapter details the contributions of theorists like Albert Cohen, who explored the impact of class inequalities on the self-perception and behavior of working-class youth, and their interpretation of delinquency as a collective response to societal constraints. It also points out the limitations of these early theories, particularly their lack of empirical research on actual youth groups and their limited consideration of gender dynamics.
New Subcultural Theory: This chapter examines the significant contributions of the Birmingham Centre for Contemporary Cultural Studies (CCCS) to subcultural theory during the 1970s. The CCCS approach is characterized by its integration of Marxist and structuralist perspectives, emphasizing the connections between youth culture, social relations of production, and class structure. The chapter discusses the influence of thinkers like Saussure, Lévi-Strauss, and Barthes on the CCCS's methodological approaches (ethnographic and textual analysis) and their emphasis on semiotics and ideology in understanding the meanings and practices of youth subcultures. It sets the stage for discussions of later chapters by highlighting the CCCS's theoretical foundations and laying groundwork for examining critiques of its work.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Youth subcultures, Cultural Studies, delinquency, social class, Birmingham Centre for Contemporary Cultural Studies (CCCS), Marxism, structuralism, semiotics, ideology, resistance, style, clubcultures, neo-tribes, lifestyle, moral panics, social change.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview of Subcultural Theories
What is the purpose of this paper?
This paper provides a comprehensive overview of subculture theories concerning youth in the 20th century. It traces the evolution of these theories from early functionalist approaches focused on delinquency to more sophisticated perspectives within Cultural Studies, and explores contemporary alternatives to the concept of subculture.
What are the key themes explored in this paper?
The paper explores the development of subcultural theories, the influence of class and social relations on subculture formation, the role of cultural artifacts and symbolic expression in shaping youth identities, critiques of traditional subcultural theories, and the application of theoretical lenses like Marxism and structuralism to understand youth subcultures.
Which theories of delinquency are discussed?
The paper discusses early theories of delinquency that focused on class, delinquency, culture, and leisure, highlighting the impact of post-World War II societal changes. It details the contributions of theorists like Albert Cohen, and points out limitations of these early theories, such as their lack of empirical research on actual youth groups and limited consideration of gender.
What is the role of the Birmingham Centre for Contemporary Cultural Studies (CCCS)?
The paper examines the significant contributions of the Birmingham Centre for Contemporary Cultural Studies (CCCS) to subcultural theory. It highlights the CCCS's integration of Marxist and structuralist perspectives, its emphasis on the connections between youth culture, social relations of production, and class structure, and its methodological approaches (ethnographic and textual analysis) influenced by thinkers like Saussure, Lévi-Strauss, and Barthes.
What are some contemporary theories of subcultures discussed?
The paper explores contemporary alternatives to traditional subculture theory, including discussions of clubcultures, the theory of 'Neo-tribes', and the theory of lifestyle, offering a broader perspective on understanding youth culture beyond the limitations of earlier models.
What are the key figures mentioned in the paper?
Key figures discussed include Albert Cohen, Phil Cohen, Dick Hebdige, and Angela McRobie, representing different stages and perspectives within subcultural theory. The paper also emphasizes the influence of key theoretical figures such as Saussure, Lévi-Strauss, and Barthes on the development of subcultural studies.
What are the main critiques of traditional subcultural theories?
The paper addresses critiques of traditional subcultural theories, acknowledging their limitations in addressing gender dynamics and their often limited empirical grounding. The exploration of contemporary perspectives offers a counterpoint to some of the shortcomings identified in earlier approaches.
What is the structure of the paper?
The paper is structured with an introduction, chapters on the theories of delinquency and new subcultural theory (including the influence of the Birmingham CCCS), contemporary theories of subcultures, a conclusion, and a list of references. Each chapter provides a summary and analysis of key theoretical concepts and their applications to the study of youth subcultures.
What are the keywords associated with this paper?
Keywords include youth subcultures, Cultural Studies, delinquency, social class, Birmingham Centre for Contemporary Cultural Studies (CCCS), Marxism, structuralism, semiotics, ideology, resistance, style, clubcultures, neo-tribes, lifestyle, moral panics, and social change.
- Quote paper
- Ausra Dvarionaite (Author), 2007, ‘Subculture’ as a theoretical problem in Cultural Studies , Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/76956