1. POSTMODERNISM
& YOUTH CULTURE

2. Remember the ‘good old days’!
Life was once predictable
Things were well structured – mapped out for us
We knew who we were – a clear identity
We had firm beliefs about the nature of things

4. From modernity to post-modernity
Modern age (Functionalism/Marxism)
Post modern age (Postmodernism)
Production
Community
Social class (can’t move between)
Family
Continuity (things stay the same)
A role of education
A one-way media (them to you)
One nation
Science aided progress and finding
the truth
Consumption
The Individual
Identity from other sources
Families (many options)
Breakage with the past/tradition
Education for what?
Two way media (choice/interchange)
Global
Science is only one source of
knowledge
Structure/security/place/stability
YOU KNEW WHO YOU WERE
Confusion/lack of structure/
incessant choice
YOU CREATE WHO YOU WANT TO BE

5. Key features of post-modernism
Truth depends on the source
Consumerism is all – what you buy defines who you are
Transformation of the self (‘pick ‘n’ mix’) – I can have ‘emo’ clothing and listen to ‘chav’ music
Disillusionment with the idea of progress
Globalisation
The impact of IT on social life

6. Postmodernism & Youth Culture
Postmodernists believe the idea of subculture is outdated
It could be argued that youth subcultures have become fragmented
Hetherington (1998) made this point when looking at the fashions and the music styles of the 1980’s

7. Postmodernism & Youth Culture
Willis (1990) believes that there is too much diversity for any one subculture to be dominant
Willis noted that the old spectacular subcultures were quite passive (they accepted the norms and values of their group)
Young people today are noted for being active and adventurous with regards to their individual style.
Willis called this ‘symbolic creativity’

8. Postmodernism & Youth Culture
Bennett (1999) says that we should not discuss subcultures anymore
Instead, we should talk about neo-tribes (a term that he invented)
A neo-tribe is a group that is loosely based around fashions and lifestyles
Members of Neo-tribes do not share the same values like those in traditional subcultures did

9. Some points on post-modernism & style
Emphasis on the centrality of style
Recycling past cultures and styles
Mixture of high and low culture.
Intermixing – different styles – collaging
Accepting the collapse of distinction and difference - sameness
Rejection of single definitions of culture e.g. focus on class
Decline of the idea of only one source of meaning – religion

10. What would a postmodernist make of this…

12. Post-modernism illustrated – ‘reality TV’
Reality TV illustrates the relationship between the consumer and the media
They are ‘real people’ who people can be observed and scrutinised.
They do not entertain – rather than exist…they are a mish-mash of cctv surveillance and gameshow
In the real world they are talentless nobodys who are treated as stars

13. Post-modernism ilustrated –’Disneyland’
Disneyland is a simulated reality.
It is artificial – yet ‘real’.
It is a place that exists and is accepted because our imagination makes it so.
The fine line between reality and fantasy is ‘greyer’.
The power of the symbol over substance.