Subculture and the meaning of style lecture

'Subculture' is defined as a cultural group within a larger culture, often having beliefs or interests at variance with those of a larger culture. 
In the documentary 'Subculture, the meaning of style', it looks at symbolising subcultures to challenge the values of mainstream society. It also looks at incorporation and social order, how it sucks symbolic threat back into the midst and ends up being conventional.

• Youth culture started post war when there was no longer a need for regiments and uniform
• It has a lot to do with music, money and marketable goods; this creates subculture
• The 'teddy boys' was the first identifiable look that was 'divorced' from appearance. It was a bold and strong look.
• Youth culture was all about rejecting the culture around you and striving to be different
• For the lower classes, it was all about adopting a style and making their own in a more affordable manor.

• The 'Rockers' were a utilitarian, more muscular American culture based on bikes and leather, made British.
• It was the first movement to show that there was a generation gap.
• The media was fundamental- radio and TV.
• Fear was also fundamental; it was essential to have something that people didn't understand and were intimidated by.
• Each subculture has a sensation that the media leaps on, it starts as an elitist until the media jumps on it.
• In the fifties, when all of this started, all youths had was what they wore. That's what they stood for.

• 'Mod' comes from a period where people looking were looking forward as opposed to looking back
• Mod's rode vespa scooters, it gave teenagers independence and made them look cool
• It was a movement that was all defined by men
• Drugs became a big part of the subculture too, which created even more of a generation gap.
• There were three phases of mod; jazz, r&b and the who/small faces.
• This then broke off into the hippies and the skinheads.

• During the 'wind thrush', boats full of Caribbean citizens moved over to England. As a result of this, the 'rude boy' culture arose. It was edgy, dangerous and anti-mainstream.
• It was the emphasis of masculinity, bringing over mento and ska.

• The 'skinheads' were like working class mods; style and music bought black and white together in this subculture.
• The whole thing was over by 1970, when the media blew it out of proportion. 
• There was a reform in the mid 70's, but it was a minority.

• Soul power was all about dance, the 'winners' made themselves the centre of attention
• Wigan was the home of Northern Soul
• It was black music being enjoyed by lower class whites, and all about having a good dance!
• There were no bands to follow, it was all an underground movement; the music didn't come to you, you had to go to it.
• Southern soul was more or a jelly shoes, ear piercing white kid/black kid thing, but was ultimately about accepting people from other races.

• In the 1970's, Britain was dismal. So along came punk, just because people needed something to do.
• It was a post-modern idea, put together by Malcom McLaren. The commonalities made a context (so it was like a combination of all of the cultures).
• Nobody looked like each other
• Everything that you did had a meaning; 'do it your own way- it doesn't matter if you get it wrong'.
• Girls had more power; this was like the rise of feminism
• The sex pistols ended punk when Steve Jones swore live on television; punk then got completely blown up by the media and became a mockery 'pantomime'.

• Punk and reggae merged together to create 'two-tone'. It was a movement that wanted to change things.
• Britain was a mess at this time. The song 'ghost town' by the Specials suited this down to a tee.

• In the 'beaten generation', affluence started to kick in.
• 'Casual' was a movement that WASN'T lead by music...it was lead by football.
• Liverpool bought loads of designer sportswear over and it fuelled the football hooligans.
• Ecstasy killed it.

• Rave was a real 'grass-roots' movement; it was like a hippy-creative atmosphere
• It was big field sized stuff, it wasn't in clubs.
• Then again, the media became involved and rave became a national thing.

• After 1987, movements and subcultures died out and instead, musical genres over took.
• Brit pop was the last definable culture, it was a set of retro enthusiasm that was very backward looking.

• NOW; everyone as easily acquired musical tastes
• Everything can be done at the touch of a button- subcultures aren't needed
• In this generation, politics is more of a driving force now.
• With youths today, the only way to shock them is to be honest.

What I gained from this lecture

I didn't know anything much about subcultures before watching this documentary, but I am fascinated about how the power of style and music could influence and drive groups of people to become so passionate and dedicated to following and being a part of these movements. 

I feel slightly envious that I have grown up in such a disconnected era, where the generation thrives on attention, false statements of popularity and narcissism. There was something so inspiring and uplifting about being a part of a sub-culture and celebrating style and music that became a part of your identity. I find it interesting that this unique and  power could never exist and exceed today, and I question what would it take to drive a generation to be connected once more.