Subculture
Def. Minority social group that share values, norms, beliefs, practices, interest and problems that are unique to them
Share some cultural aspects with mainstream society but also have their own – practical or alternative ideas and may experience hostility and discrimination
Culture within a larger culture
Enjoyed by a small group within society
Have distinct norms and values which go against the dominant ones
May change over time
May originate in age difference such as spectacular youth subcultures meaning young people who are disaffected by society in some way such as goths and skinheads
| Norms | Values | Language |
| Dark clothing | Creativity | Slang or restricted code |
| Tattoos | Stand up to oppressors | Mostly lower class |
Goths
Men have an androgynous way
Predictor of self-harm and attempted suicide
See beauty within dark things
Gothic rock – romantic lyrics
Skinheads
Wear clothes they can wear to a dance hall
Racist skinheads do chant and recite speeches from Nazi party
Polo shirts and button-down shirts with certain brands such as Fred Perry
Sociologists suggest different lifestyles experienced by the working class, middle class and upper class indicate the existence of class subcultures such as north of England
Concept links to cultural diversity so a society with many subcultures
High Culture
Linked with the elite, upper class in society who have an ascribed status
Landed gentry – land and title
Refers to cultural products and activities/practices that are high status so represented humanity’s finest achievements
A system of social closure so not allowing outsiders to join
Remains elite and excusive position due to old boy network
A privileged position in contemporary UK both economically and socially
Professions include verbal and social skills to gain power
Thought to be intellectually and aesthetically superior so improving effect on those who invest
Includes wealth, royalty and well educated such as Oxford and Cambridge
| Norms | Values | Language |
| Better dressed and a lot of wealth | Shows wealth and appearance | Speak with high level of authority |
| Sporting activities such as polo and hunting | Shows their status and power | Posh and sophisticated they don’t speak slang |
Appreciated by upper class
Social upbringing which is cultural so high levels of education as they are nurtured in public schools
Reference to the UK it is used to be common but now their luxuries are affordable to the lower classes
People can achieve their status, so they buy access to high culture
All due to popular culture
Marxist sociologists are critical
Bourdieu argued that high culture occupies the superior position due to capitalist class, so they use economic and political power
Only 5% of the country but own 50% of our country’s wealth
Global Culture
Globalisation is the process by which events in one part of the world come to influence what happens elsewhere in the world
Becoming universal so interconnected socially, politically and economically
- Economically = world stock market
- Politically = World leaders have interest in who they ally themselves with and why
- Socially = Trends and fashion
Domestic cultures of societies can no longer exist in isolation and shaped by globalisation such as UK
Global culture arrived due to patterns of migration, trends in international travel and spread media so exposes images from same dominant world companies
Produced and marketed globally by transnational corporation so buying and selling such as coca -Cola
UK global society due to British people consuming food, music and films from all over the world
Continually exposed and influenced by worldwide events trends and fashion
McLuhan (1964)
Argued the world has become a smaller place known as Global Village so cultural homogeneity so how similar agents are
Driven in industry travel (multinational companies) so accessible media influence and internet
Concepts of Americanisation and mcdonaldisation:
Mcdonalisation originally McDonalds originated from American culture but now shared by everyone
Americanisation is American media and corporations increasingly erode national cultures
Popular Culture
Strinalti (1995) said it is an associated with shallow/poor activities, education and classes
Enjoyed by the masses and accessible such as west end so theatre was made
Argued that the mass media is largely responsible for the creation and growth of popular culture so consumption of martial goods which advertised in media so created high volume of materialism, so we become a consumer orientated society
Borrows ideas from high culture and then popularly it such as golf
Adrono
Sceptical view
Masses can be socialised into being preoccupied with trivial matters deflecting with important social concerns
Cultural products which don’t aspire to high intellectual or creative superiority
Inferior and dismissed as a low culture so Marxist say the type of culture is social control the Marcuse encouraging the population mainly the poor to passively accept status
Postmodern
Suggest it can no longer be classes as a mass culture due to it coming more cultural – consumerism
Norms = tattoos and piercing – prisons and gang members so frowned upon
Multiculturalism
Different ethnic backgrounds living side by side in the society
In the UK, multiculturalism society as 8.9% of the population are from minority ethnic backgrounds
300 languages in England
- 98% English
- 23% French
- 9% German
- 5% Punjabi
- 5% Urdo
Promotes the belief that ethnic groups are all the same status so sharing an equal right to preserve their own cultural heritage
Baker (2003)
Celebration of difference in religious education and festivals so a positive factor in the UK
Related to migration patterns
Debates if it’s positive or encourages separatism
Argues to create separation between groups and may be a negative factor in social cohesion
May encourage riots and racial conflicts so makes it difficult for ethnicities to live without conflicts
| Norms and values | Language | Cities and relevance |
| Differs for each culture so creates culture makes it ideal and universal | Bayesian says word play created cultural identity | Tend to live in larger cities such as London |
Parekh (2006)
Culturally embedded difference
CAGES = Class, Age, Gender. Ethnicity and Sexuality
Consumer Culture
Things we consume and use it in society
Based on cultural and economic factors
Individuals who purchase goods and services for personal use
Economic conditions are crucial in the creation of identity
Social status values and activities are centred on the consumption of goods and services
Lury (1996)
Availability of wide range of consumer goods
Acceptance of debt
Packaging – perception of shopping so a leisure pursuit
Diversification – variety of shopping
Combined to create a consumer culture
Postmodernist
What we buy and how we display are important part on the creation of our identities
| Norms | Values | Pros and Cons |
| Debt is social norms and seen as leisure activity | Social expectation in owning something | Helps economy by encouraging to send money |
Cultural Diversity
Def. The existence of variety of cultural or ethnic group with a society
Cultural differences in society
Despite the fact there is consensus or agreement on fundamental value or norms, so people experience a common sense of belonging such as class, ethnicity, gender and sexuality
Large cities have famous areas for their distinct way such as Chinatown in London, Liverpool, Manchester and Glasgow
Sociologists avoid making value judgements about cultures in societies and view cultures as different and not superior or inferior to another
Intracultural Diversity
Cultures differ from one to another in terms of values and norms
Considered normal in one and offensive in another
Last 60 years the UK have become more culturally diverse society
In the UK
- Regional differences such as Celtic cultures differ in some important respects from English cultures
- Class differences such as Britain in class society
- Ethnic and religious differences such as Britain is a multicultural society so encouraged and acknowledged
Enjoy some status and right, living alongside each other respecting beliefs, customs and heritage
Celebrate differences
Cultural Hybridity
Happens when cultures mix such as UK contains aspects of English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish but influences aspects of ethnic minority and global culture
Seen in music and fashion as British people drink French wines and American food
Evidence in children of immigrants in UK mainly among Asians who mix both cultures such as Brasian
In the UK considered 2nd or 3rd generations who adopt a hybrid identity