Countercultures vocabulary Culture Subcultures Material culture Nonmaterial culture
& Countercultures
• • • vocabulary Culture Subcultures Material culture Nonmaterial culture Society Technology Language Values Norms Folkways Mores Laws
After today… • You should be able to tell the difference between subcultures & countercultures • You should be able to identify the purpose of subcultures within dominant society • You should be able to identify the qualities of sub/countercultures
What is a subculture? • Any group that exists within dominant, mainstream culture…a world within a world – Shared ideology…values, norms, beliefs – Shared aesthetic…dress, pastimes, music, zines/blogs, etc – Shared vernacular…specialized language
Types of Subcultures • • Vocational subcultures Recreational subcultures Ethnic subcultures Lifestyle Subcultures
Job Jargon: Truck Driving • • • "Reefer". . . refrigerated trailer "Big Road". . Highway "Flip Flop". . . return trip "Chicken Coup". . . truck scales "Bear". . . Police "Back Door". . . Behind
Purpose of both sub and countercultures • Gives people a place where they are empowered • Connects likeminded people • Makes invisible people visible • Allows people to escape the identity they are born into • Gives people a place to construct identity
Furries
FURRIES • https: //www. vox. com/ • 2014/12/10/7362321/9 -questions-aboutfurries-you-were-tooembarrassed-to-ask The furry fandom is a subculture interested in anthropomorphic animal characters with human personalities and characteristics. Examples of anthropomorphic attributes include exhibiting human intelligence and facial expressions, speaking, walking on two legs, and wearing clothes.
Otherkin • Subculture of people, primarily Internetbased, who identify in some way as other than human • Believe themselves to be mythological or legendary creatures, explaining their beliefs through reincarnation, having a nonhuman soul – Angels, demons, dragons, elves, extraterrestrials, fairies, kitsune, lycanthropes, and vampires
Bōsōzoku • “Violent running gang”; a Japanese subculture associated with motorcycle clubs and gangs. – First seen in the 1950 s as the Japanese automobile industry expanded rapidly. • Engage in dangerous or reckless driving, such as weaving in traffic, not wearing motorcycle helmets, and running red lights – composed of people under the legal adult age, (20 yrs old) – Weapons of choice: wooden swords, metal pipes and Molotov cocktails.
PRESS TURN OFF VOLUME ON COPUTER
Sukeban • Sukeban --"suke" means female, while "ban" means boss in Japan; girl gangs • Wear sailor uniforms; pleated skirts that went down to their feet, and custom embroidery
Girls dress like their favorite manga, anime, or video-game character. Wamona, cyber, decora , or cosplay Harajuku district of Japan
Steampunk • Based on science fiction literature blended with Victorian Era culture… – Think H. G. Wells and Jules Verne – Clothing: gowns, corsets, petticoats and bustles; suits with vests, coats and spats; or militaryinspired garments.
Hipsters
LARPers • Participants physically act out their characters' actions as decided by the gamemaster – May last hours or days – May be in public or private – Most characters dress up and have alternative personas – Horror, zombie, fantasy, post apocalyptic, assassin, etc.
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Trekkies
What is a counterculture? • A group who’s values and norms deviate from or are at odds with those of dominant culture: – Usually viewed as negative/dangerous, but not always (e. g. women’s lib groups in the 70 s or the Civil Rights movement of the 60 s) – Hippies, KKK, early punk, Satanists, Hells Angels/Pagans, Anarchists, Cults
Why do people join countercultures? • Members of countercultural groups are… – Usually outsiders – Alienated – Marginalized people with little power over their status in the world – Don’t fit the mold of what American cultures says is “normal”
Hippies
Hippies press
Punk Subculture • Emerges in London and NYC in the 1970 s – Max’s Kansas City & CBGBs • Backlash against the hippy counterculture • Values: nihilistic, rejected materialism, anti -establishment press
Goths
EMO Press • In contemporary culture it is utilized as a broad term to describe a multitude of children and teenagers who straighten their hair, have their hair in their face, perhaps dye it black, and wear tight clothing. Unfortunately this is completely inaccurate. Actual "emo" music existed in the late 80's and was a subgenre of hardcore punk rock, after all, "emo" is a shortening of "Emotional hardcore punk rock".
GOTH PRESS
SUBCULTURE PROJECT
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