In today's class we spent a fair amount of time talking about whether or not growing up and becoming an "adult" instead of being a "youth" means that you can no longer be part of a subculture with which you use to identify yourself. We specifically contended with the issue of 'responsibility' and whether by being an adult and having these 'responsibilities' we have to shut ourselves off from the youth subcultures we once were a part of. To me, the title "youth subculture" describes not necessarily the whole population of the subculture but rather indicates what stage in life we begin to shape our own identities as people. I have many experiences which have shown me that just because one puts on a face for the working world, or has a family and kids, or simply ages, does not mean that one has to abandon that thing that they identified with and had been part of their life for so long. I have run in to adults in all kinds of professions and levels of wealth who appreciate, and regularly attend concerts of, the same bands I like. For me this is always a fun experience because you meet someone who shares with you in that subcultural experience and stands as proof that your ability to be a part of that community can continue.
While I will concede that the involvement may be less than that of a teenager or 20 year-old, adults still have a role as members of a subculture, which is to help bring that subculture to new generations of young people. In the story "Jackie was a Punk" the main character recieves guidance from an older companion in the subculture about how to act at shows. Similarly, I have seen adults who have brought their children along at every single heavy metal show I have been to. Whether it was Slayer, Machinehead, or Exodus, there were parents there, some with children half my age, exposing their children to a subculture and what it has to offer them. I believe this is what makes a subculture stand the test of time. The passing down of a subculture is what makes it a culture, not just a passing 'scene',with successive generations of members which help it to survive, and to grow.
The question this raises for me is: why are they called "youth" subcultures?
ReplyDeleteI think I at least approached an answer to that when I said: "To me, the title "youth subculture" describes not necessarily the whole population of the subculture but rather indicates what stage in life we begin to shape our own identities as people." To expand on that I mean to say that youths are the ones who join and start these subcultures to begin with. I think if people only joined subcultures later in life the name, and perhaps the entire characterization of subcultures, would change significantly.
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