Youth Subcultures in the USA in the 20th Century and Beyond 3301-KA2513
This course is dedicated to the issue of youth subcultures in the USA. It analysis their development and how they changed as a result of the changes that occurred in American culture. The classes will first focus on early theoretical approaches to the subject, and then it will move on to discuss the idea of subcultural studies developed at the Centre for Contemporary Cultural Studies at the University of Birmingham. It then will shift focus to the criticism of this approach along with new propositions, which were a result of its flaws and of the fact that they proves insufficient as analytical tools in a new social reality (e.g.: Post Subculture studies). In addition, new theoretical approaches towards culture that had an impact on subcultural studies will also be discussed.
After the theoretical introduction, given subcultural movements will be discussed. Each analysis will take into consideration such issues as the historical context, and the social, economic and political factors that could have exercised an influence on the development of a given movement. Particular attention will be paid to those issues that are significant in the context of youth subcultures, such as the contestation of socially accepted norms, traditional values, fashion, the search for identity, authenticity, the complicated relationship with consumer society. In addition, various changes in American society connected with issues of race, ethnicity, age (extended adolescence), social norms, technological development (such as subcultures in the times of the Internet), or given events (e.g.: the Vietnam War).
Amongst the subcultures discussed there will be such movements that are primarily connected with music, race and ideology. We will analise such movements as Flappers, Zoot Suits, Hipsters (both the 1940s subculture as well as the contemporary one that shares this name), Greasers, Hippies, Hip-Hop, Punk, Hardcore, Grunge, Emo and their variations.
Theoretical discussions will be illustrated by various other examples (e.g. gamers and fandoms).
Type of course
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
The students have knowledge of subcultural theory and its development. They know both historical and contemporary subcultures and are capable of analysing such movements.
Gains knowledge about the symbolic basis of interaction both within one culture as well as between various cultures;
becomes conscious of the complexity and pluralism of culture as a system, basing it in cultural anthropology
Gains knowledge about the social structure of the United States and relations between various social groups.
Is capable of interpreting, analyzing, establishing hierarchy and synthesizing phenomena in their linguistic, cultural, social, historical and economic aspects;
Is capable of identifying cultural symbols and adapt cultural codes when interacting with people from other cultures, particularly English-speaking ones;
is conscious of the value of his/her knowledge and abilities in creating communal ties.
In class discussions students acquire skills of expressing their thoughts in a clear, coherent, logical and precise manner, with the use of language which is correct grammatically, lexically and phonetically.
Language training towards a B2+ level
Assessment criteria
In-class activity and final test (open-ended questions).
Retake is in the form of an oral exam.
Retakes only apply if the student receives a non-passing grade from the final exam.
Maximum number of absences: 3.
Bibliography
“Cybersubcultures” in: Bell. David and Barbara M. Kennedy. The CyberCultures Reader. Routledge, 2000.
Bennett, Andy and Keith Kahn-Harris. After Subculture: Critical Studies in Contemporary Youth Culture. Palgrave, 2004.
Bennett, Andy and Paul Hodkinson. Ageing and Youth Cultures: Music, Style and Identity. Berg, 2012.
Brake, Michael: Comparative Youth Subcultures. The Sociology of Youth Cultures and Youth Subcultures in America, Britain and Canada. Routledge: 1995.
Broyard, Anatole. “Portrait of a Hipster.” In: Beat Down to Your Soul: What Was the Beat Generation? Penguin, 2001.
Campbell, Neil and Alasdair Kean. American Cultural Studies. An Introduction to American Culture. Routlege, 1997.
Fass, Paula S. The Damned and the Beautiful: American Youth in the 1920s. Oxford University Press, 1977.
Forman, Murray and Mark Anthony Neal. That’s the Joint. A Hip-Hop Studies Reader. Routledge, 2011.
Gelder, Ken. Subcultures: Cultural Histories and Social Practices. Routledge,2007.
Gelder, Ken and Sarah Thornton, eds. The Subcultures Reader. Routledge, 1997.
Greif, Mark. ‘What was the Hipster?” In: New York Magazine. Available on-line: http://nymag.com/news/features/69129/
Haddow, Douglas. ‘Hipster: The Dead End of Western Civilization.’ In: Adbusters Magazine. Available on-line: http://www.adbusters.org/magazine/79/hipster.html
Hall, Stuart and Tony Jefferson eds. Resistance Through Rituals: Youth Subcultures in Post-War Britain. Routledge, 1996.
Hartley, John and Roberta E. Pearson. American Cultural Studies: A Reader. Oxford University Press, 2000.
Hebdige, Dick. Subculture. The Meaning of Style. Routledge, 1979.
Mailer, Norman. ‘The White Negro.’ In: Dissent Magazine. Available on-line: http://www.dissentmagazine.org/online.php?id=26
Hodkinosn, Paul and Wolfgang Deicke, eds.. Youth Cultures: Scenes, Subcultures and Tribes. Routledge, 2009.
Lurie, Peter. Teenage Revolution. Anthony Blond, 1965.
Marwick, Arthur. The Sixties: Cultural Revolution in Britain, France, Italy, and the United States, 1958-1974. Oxford University Press, 1998.
McRobbie, Angela (ed.). Zoot Suits and Second-hand Dresses: an Anthology of Fashion and Music. Macmillan, 1989.
Muggleton, David and Rupert Weinzierl, eds. The Post-Subcultures Reader. Berg, 2003.
Osgerby, Bill. Youth in Britain since 1945. Oxford: Blackwell, 1998.
Polsky, Ned. Hustlers, Beats and Others. Pelican, 1971.
Storey, John, ed. The Cultural Studies Reader. Harvester Wheatsheaf, 1994.
Wicke, Peter. Rock Music. Culture, Aesthetics and Sociology. Cambridge University Press, 1990.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: