Subculture

First Published in 2002. It is easy to see that we are living in a time of rapid and radical social change. It is much less easy to grasp the fact that such change will inevitably affect the nature of those disciplines that both reflect our society and help to shape it. Yet this is nowhere more apparent than in the central field of what may, in general terms, be called literary studies. ‘New Accents’ is intended as a positive response to the initiative offered by such a situation. Each volume in the series will seek to encourage rather than resist the process of change. To stretch rather than reinforce the boundaries that currently define literature and its academic study.

Based on extensive ethnographic research, this collection uses a variety of theoretical perspectives and methodologies to examine some of the many subcultures and new religious movements that have emerged in Central and Eastern Europe since the fall of communism.

In the last decade, interest has returned to the study of a cultural, rather than bureaucratic, model of the organization. Trice (emeritus, Cornell U. School of Industrial and Labor Relations) argues that essential to this study is recognition of occupations as potent subcultures, which adapt and interact within the context of the organization. He uses as examples a variety of occupations from pipe welders to concert pianists. Paper edition (unseen), $16.95. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Collected Papers of the International interdisciplinary conference “Sketch a subculture” Subcultures can be so tightly integrated into the contemporary person's daily life that they have become almost indispensable and ubiquitous. Family, job, agreements, responsibilities and negotiations are one thing, but, let us say, skydiving, or riding a bike in the company of motorcycle enthusiasts is a different thing—no less an important part of one's life. The current state of affairs is that almost everyone on this planet belongs to some subculture in one way or another. This another, natural part of one's lifestyle for pleasure is not always considered a "subculture," but the heart of the matter does not change because of this. To the point, a person might be a part of more than one subculture, and at the same time know nothing about what it may lead to; they may know nothing about the possible scenarios, goals and intentions of this environment. Even the most attractive and "mysteriously" formulated idea (for example, attaining Nirvana) remains something inconceivable, for what is "Nirvana," and how to understand that this state has been achieved is unknown. The idea has no explanations, no criteria and no parameters. And yet, this does not stop people from pursuing ideas as such. Many voluntarily strive for something they know practically nothing about. Why are subcultures so attractive? Why have they become magnets to researchers, professionals and business persons, among all others? These and many other questions require innovative approaches and an unbiased dialogue in an understandable scientific language. The International interdisciplinary conference “Sketch a subculture” united leading experts, scientists, researchers, practitioners, journalists, photographers and thinkers for this discussion on 6 different online panels, where the following questions were discussed: 1. Problems of choosing a research path in studying a subculture. 2. Plan of researching a subculture: from the idea to the completion of the research, from mythological and religious to scientific and philosophical worldviews. 3. From mythologemes to ideas as foundational elements of subculture formation. Approaches for researching mythologemes that underlie the philosophy of a subculture. 4. Approaches for studying the hierarchy of subcultures. Can we claim that the hierarchical structure of all subcultures is identical? 5. Ways to explore the attributes and symbols of subcultures. 6. The phenomenon of “Subculture in Subculture” and characteristics of its study. The synthesis of ideas in the subculture, reasons for the existence of subcultures, invisible internal mechanisms that maintain their continuance. 7. Frederick Lawrence’s drawing as the purpose of subculture research. 8. Can we consider a subculture as a machine that shapes a personality? The idea of death and different ways of implementing this idea by subcultures in daily life. 9. Frederick Lawrence’s drawing, the theory of subculture formation, application of prototype method to understand phenomena. 10. Is it true that one idea forms a whole subculture? The pathway in subculture: fatal and successful. 11. The difference between subculture and religion. What are specific elements that shape each institution? 12. Use of religion by other social institutions (business, politics, etc.) for their own purposes. Religion transformation: from divine transcendence to the universal society based on techno-ideological principles.

The only collected work of its kind in the field, The Subcultures Reader brings together the most valuable and stimulating writings on subcultures from the Chicago School to the present day. All the articles have been specially selected and edited for inclusion in the Reader and are grouped in sections, each with an editor's introduction. There is also a general introduction to the collection, which maps out the field of subcultural studies. Providing an essential guide to the subject, it enables students and teachers to understand how subcultural studies developed, the range of work it encompasses, and provides potential future directions of study throughout the field.

Subcultures: The Basics is an accessible, engaging introduction to youth cultures in a global context. Blending theory and practice to examine a range of subcultural movements including hip hop in Japan, global graffiti writing crews, heavy metal in Europe and straight edge movements in the USA, this text answers the key questions posed by those new to the subject, including: What is a subculture? How do subcultures emerge, who participates and why? What is the relationship between deviance, resistance and the ‘mainstream’? How does society react to different subcultural movements? How has global media and virtual networking influenced subcultures? Is there a life ‘after’ subculture? Tracing the history and development of subcultures to the present day, with further reading and case studies throughout, this text is essential reading for all those studying youth culture in the contexts of sociology, cultural studies, media studies, anthropology and criminology.

This edited collection provides sociological and cultural research that expands our understanding of the alternative, liminal or transgressive; theorizing the status of the alternative in contemporary culture and society.

This volume critically examines ’subculture’ in a variety of Australian contexts, exploring the ways in which the terrain of youth cultures and subcultures has changed over the past two decades and considering whether ’subculture’ still works as a viable conceptual framework for studying youth culture. Richly illustrated with concrete case studies, the book is thematically organised into four sections addressing i) theoretical concerns and global debates over the continued usefulness of subculture as a concept; ii) the important place of ’belonging’ in subcultural experience and the ways in which belonging is played out across an array of youth cultures; iii) the gendered experiences of young men and women and their ways of navigating subcultural participation; and iv) the ethical and methodological considerations that arise in relation to researching and teaching youth culture and subculture. Bringing together the latest interdisciplinary research to combine theoretical considerations with recent empirical studies of subcultural experience, Youth Cultures and Subcultures will appeal to scholars and students across the social sciences.