Subcultures

Book excerpt: Subcultures: The Basics is an engaging introduction to youth cultures in a global context. Blending theory and practice, this text examines a range of subcultures such as hip hop graffiti writing, heavy metal, punk, burlesque, parkour, riot grrrl, straight edge, body modification, and skateboarding. Using case studies from around the world, it addresses such questions as: What is subculture? How do subcultures emerge, who participates, and why? What is the relationship between deviance, resistance, and the "mainstream"? How has global media and virtual networking influenced subcultures? What happens when subcultural participants "grow up"? Tracing the history and development of subcultures, with further reading and resources throughout, this text is essential reading for all those studying youth culture in the contexts of sociology, cultural studies, media studies, anthropology, and criminology. -- from back cover.