Representations Of Youth Subculture In The Mass Media
Submitted by cosmicpoker on 06/30/2008 05:21 PM
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Representations Of Youth Subculture In The Mass Media
Simon Adams 2Digital Screen Arts
"In our society, youth is present only when its presence is a problem, or is regarded as a problemE(D Hebdige 1988)
To what extent is this true of representations of contemporary youth subcultures? Reference to two media texts.
Youth subculture can be defined as a minority youth culture whose distinctiveness depended largely on the social class and ethnic background of its members; often characterized by its adoption of a particular music genre, there are a number of separate youth subcultures that have appeared over time including bikers, flower people, hippies, hipsters, mods and punks.
A subculture forms when the larger culture fails to meet the needs of a particular group of people. They offer different values and behaviour norms, but there is dependence on the larger culture for general goals and direction. Subcultures try to compensate for the failure of the larger culture to provide adequate status, acceptance and identity. In the youth subculture, youth find their age-related needs met.
Youth subcultures are predominantly introduced into society by the mass media as problematic. Youth subcultures have also been the subject of countless moral panics; an occurrence which is characterised by stylized and stereotypicalErepresentations by the mass media, and a tendency for those in powerE(politicians, bishops, editors and so on) to man the moral barricadesEand pronounce judgement .
The validity of HebdigesEclaim is questionable. Youth subcultures have been presented in a variety of ways throughout time. Rob Reiner's Stand By MeE illustrates both extremes of youth subculture representation. However, it is clear to see where and how Hebdige's conclusion's originated. The negative representation of youth and particularly youth subcultures is widespread. This can be seen in a diverse range of media...
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