Identities - Subcultures, Tribes and Fans

6 important questions on Identities - Subcultures, Tribes and Fans

Hebdige (1979) examined the succession of youth subcultures in Britain that center around music. He argued that young, working-class men symbolically resist both adult culture and middle-class values, through a process called bricolage.

Can you explain what "bricolage" means?

  • The combination of existing products in unexpected ways.
  • The young men in Hebdige's study develop new musical styles, shocking to adults, that help them define as a group.
    • Eventually the styles are adopted and cleaned up by the culture industries, stripping the styles of their oppositional power.

In the study on club cultures, Thorton (1995), argues that clubbers in the underground display "subcultural capital" to claim authenticity and status over people who go to mainstream venues.

What is "subcultural capital?"

  • Forms of cultural capital that defines the subculture.
  • Things such as wearing "hip clothes" and the way they dance.

In the ethnography on goth people by Hodkinson (2002), four features are discerned that make up a substantial subculture.
Can you name and explain these four features?

  • Consistent distinctiveness.
    • The group's shared tastes and values which are consistent distinctive from other groups.
  • Identity.
    • Shared feelings of identity in the subculture's group.
  • Commitment.
    • Continuous involvement in the group.
  • Autonomy.
    • A lot of the subculture's activities are still autonomous undertaken by and for enthusiasts, rather than "outsiders" who, for instance, want to make a profit.
  • Higher grades + faster learning
  • Never study anything twice
  • 100% sure, 100% understanding
Discover Study Smart

Bennett (1999) rejects the Birmingham School's definition of subculture and draws on Maffesoli's (1996) idea of contemporary tribes to state his idea about the neo-tribe.

Can you explain what a "neo-tribe" is?

  • Groups that express identity based on a lifestyle.
    • Members share consumption practices (e.g., music style).
  • Tribes are changeable and relatively ephemeral.
    • People's lifestyles are fluid.
    • E.g., you can love a certain style of music and identify with its lifestyle, but after a few years change to a totally different genre and lifestyle.

What is the big difference between substantial subcultures (goths) and neo-tribes (techno consumers)?

Subcultures provide a greater sense of coherent identity and are less fluid.

Jenkins (1992) argues that fandom can engender intense engagement with art.
Can you explain this?

They poach from the source material (e.g., Star Wars) and transform it, create original works, fanfiction etc.

The question on the page originate from the summary of the following study material:

  • A unique study and practice tool
  • Never study anything twice again
  • Get the grades you hope for
  • 100% sure, 100% understanding
Remember faster, study better. Scientifically proven.
Trustpilot Logo