Text 2 a Single Youth Culture

Youth culture and youth subcultures have been a subject of research since the early 1930s. Concise Oxford Dictionary describes subculture as “cultural group within a larger culture often having beliefs or interests at variance with those of the larger culture”. Subcultures are often considered to be attached to a social class. Empirical observation carried out by sociologists find that youth sub-cultures have a distinct individual style. They have certain ways of dressing (i.e. shoes, clothing and hairstyles), speaking (i.e. slang), listening to music and gathering in similar places. Some sociologies believe that youth subcultures have important positive functions in easing the transition from childhood to full adult life.

To concentrate on the bikers of the 60's seems fitting. This was one large youth culture and it still exists as a smaller section of society. Although there are variants of bike-boys they were broadly from a working class background and were seen as outsiders and loners linked by the love of motor-bikes and heavy rock music. Their style was masculine and their appearance was aggressive. The motor-cycle outfit looked tough with its leather studs, denim and heavy leather boots. Hair was worn long in a greasy swept-back style and many were tattooed on the hands, arms and chest. A typical evening for the bike boys would consist of the same activities: a drink and a game of darts in their local pub, a game of pinball and a coffee in the coffee bar and general horseplay and chatter in a club.

It is fair to say that social conditions have greatly improved in Britain since the 1960's and social class seems almost a thing of the past with modern politicians claiming that we are ‘all middle class’. This explains why there has been no substantial youth culture in a decade. Although bikers, as a subculture, still exist today, it appears that changes have been made as to the composition of members within the subculture; their values, beliefs and shared activities.

The 'ravers' from the eighties are a good example of another post-war youth culture. During the late 80s, young people with bandannas, brightly coloured clothes and a crazed look in their eyes were being presented as the next youth subculture. For the ravers (also known as clubbers) the shared experience is attending a rave party and possibly taking ecstasy which has become synonymous with the rave culture. This is often the only thing ravers have in common with each other unlike other subcultures. These parties, where extensive use of strobe lighting and psychedelic imagery was used, were attended by young males and females dressed in baggy oversized T-shirts, track suits and baggy jeans. The clothes were comfortable, brightly coloured and cheap. The intensive dancing to fast beating music, along with the use of hypnotic drugs, went hand-in-hand. This style of clothing suited excessive body movement, however, with interest coming from the fashion industry, it began to change and evolve. Baggy clothes for girls were replaced by tight body-hugging outfits made of materials such as lycra, emphasising appearance rather than comfort and practicality. It is difficult to define the common experiences that lead people to go to raves. It could be that many youths wanted to get away from the norms of every day life or problems like unemployment. Ravers appear to cut across all social divisions, classes, gender and age. Unlike the 60s bikers, ravers are not exclusive to the working class, the unemployed or dominated by male members. It is difficult to make analogies between the common experiences of an eighteen year old student and a thirty year old computer analyst both attending raves on a Saturday night.

Some social scientists argue that the age of spectacular subcultures is gone for good. This is because there are so many style and taste cultures which offer young people different ways of expressing their identity. They claim that there is too much diversity for any single youth subculture to dominate society. Nowadays identities appear to be in a constant state of change: individuals move freely from one sub-cultural group to another. Style, enjoyment, excitement, escape from boredom at work or play, being attractive to oneself have now become central life concerns. Changes in production techniques and consumer demand for a wider range of products allow greater choice not only for the youth generation, but increasingly for the middle aged and the elderly.

It is also worth noting that in recent years the subcultures that have occurred have been seen to be deviant such as the skinheads, football ‘hooligans’ and punks. They show the need for social change in a radical way. However, nowadays there are other ways of expressing hatred of norms. There are political parties and pressure groups to join, there are a number of relaxation therapies available and the use of psychologists is much more widespread. Young people face a future in which any genuine radicalism is quickly incorporated into the commercial marketing system and used to sell more commodities. Although there are a number of subcultures left in today's society like people who follow the grunge movement, there is no singular youth culture left.

Active vocabulary list

1. concise [kqn’sais] = brief, short

2. at variance with = different from

3. consider – считать, рассматривать. Конструкция типа ‘Нe is/was considered to be a kind man’ переводится на русский язык «Считается/считалось, что он добрый человек». Наряду с глаголом ‘consider’ в такой конструкции могут использоваться глаголы think, believe, suppose, assume и ряд других.

4. attach v. smth to– присоединять, прикреплять что-либо к

ant. detach

5. carry out v. – выполнять, проводить

I expect my instructions to be carried out to the letter.

6. distinct [dɪ’stɪŋkt] from – особенный, четко отличающийся от

The region’s linguistic and cultural identity is quite distinct from that of the rest of the country.

7. certain adj. – определенный

syn. definite

8. similar to – аналогичный, похожий на

syn. analogous [q’nxlqgqs] to

similarity n. – сходство

syn. analogy [q’nxlqGI]

9. fitting – подходящий, уместный

syn. appropriate

10. although [ɔ:l’ðəu] = though

11. broadly = Зд. mainly

12. link v. to/with= connect

13. appearance n. – 1)внешность (syn. looks), 2) появление

appear v. – 1)появляться 2) казаться

It appears that… - Кажется, что = По-видимому (наверное, очевидно)

Nowadays identities appear to be in a constant state of change.

Очевидно, что в настоящее время люди постоянно меняют свой образ, находятся в постоянном поиске собственной индивидуальности.

14. outfit n. – одежда, одеяние, облачение, «прикид»

syn. a set of clothes

15. consist of – состоять из

syn. be made up of

16. claim – провозглашать, утверждать

17. substantial [səb’stænʃ(ə)l] - значительный

syn. huge, enormous, considerable

18. composition – состав

syn. constitution

19. present v. [pri’zent] – представлять

Statistics can be used to challenge theories that are presented as facts.

present someone with something – дарить, награждать

We are very pleased to be presented with this prestigious award.

20. synonymous with – быть неразрывно связанным с

syn. related to, connected with, corresponding to

wines, cheeses, and other products that have become synonymous with France

21. have (smth) in common with – иметь (что-то) общее с

This area obviously has a lot in common with other poor city areas.

22. along with – помимо, наряду с

syn. in addition to, apart from

23. however conj.– однако, тем не менее

24. evolve v. – развиваться

Syn. develop

25. replace v. smth with smth –заменить что-то чем-то

26. tight – плотно облегающий, тесный

syn. close fitting

ant. loose fitting

27. rather than – а не

28 define v. – определять

The responsibilities of each team member need to be clearly defined.

Defining the word ‘love’ can be very difficult.

29. lead (led, led) v. - вести, приводить к

30. cut across 1) пересекать

A river cut across the track about a hundred metres further on.

2) распространяться (через границы)

These problems cut across class boundaries.

31. dominate v. smth – 1) преобладать

The earthquake once again dominated the news.

Syn. prevail

2) подавлять, контролировать

As a boy, he was dominated by his mother.

32. argue v. – 1) спорить (with/about/over)

He used to argue with me over who should drive.

2) утверждать (that…)

33. for good = forever –навсегда

34. offer v. – предлагать

syn. suggest, propose

Remember the following structures

He thinks that we should offer to help.

I propose to tell them the absolute truth. (formal)

I propose telling them what we think. (neutral)

I suggest we (should) have dinner first, and then watch the film.

I suggest going to the movies.

35. diversity [daɪ’vɜ:səti, dɪ’vɜ:səti] - разнообразие

syn. variety, variation

36. range – ряд, диапазон

37. increasingly – все больше и больше (от increase – увеличивать(ся))

38. note v. – отметить

Liz noted the changes with satisfaction.

39.occur v. [q’kE:] – происходить

syn. take place

40. deviant adj. [‘di:viənt] – отклоняющийся от нормы

(от ‘deviate’ – отклоняться)

41. face v. smth.– столкнуться с

She had to face the fact that she still missed him.

syn. be faced with

The country is now faced with the prospect of war.

42. incorporated into = included/involved into

43. commodity – товар, предмет потребления

44. a number of – ряд, некоторое количество

He has made a number of mistakes. Он сделал ряд ошибок.

the number of – число, количество

The number of mistakes he made amounted to several dozens.

Число допущенных им ошибок исчислялось несколькими десятками.

Question for discussion:

1. How can the word subculture be defined? What makes youth subcultures distinct from others?

2. What are the distinct characteristics of the bikers of the 60s?

3. Why hasn’t there been any substantial youth culture in the latest decade?

4. What is typical of the ravers of the 80s? Can ravers be called a proper subculture. Give you reasons.

5. Why do some social scientists argue that the age of spectacular subcultures is gone for good?

6. Why does the author of the text consider the subcultures that have appeared recently (punks, skinheads, etc.) to be deviant?

7. What kind of future do young people face in terms of belonging to a certain subculture?

Use these question as a plan for a short retelling of the text.