Perspectives on Youth Culture Through Functionalist and Neo-Marxist Views
Functionalist and Neo-Marxist views
on the purpose of youth culture.
Big Picture – Does youth culture
provide a positive function for
society?
What function do you think youth
culture serves?
•
Think about how youth has changed since
WWII and what need you think youth culture
satisfies.
•
Functionalists believe that youth culture offers
young people a transitory phase between
childhood and adulthood. This allows for
social integration.
•
What would happen if there was no phase?
A Rite of passage
•
Talcott Parsons (1954) Functionalist , stated
that this phase allows young people to
become more separated from parents paving
the way for independence later on.
•
Example – part-time job whilst in 6
th
form
provides a little experience of money
management.
•
Parsons viewed this as a phase through which
all young people must pass.
A shared way of life
•
Functionalists believe that shared culture is important
for society and integration.
•
Einstadt (1956) suggested youth culture binds young
people together and also provides an outlet for the
tensions felt by the young.
•
Abrahms (1959) after WWII the youth had more
spending power and so became an important part of
the economy providing another function in society.
•
A third function suggested is that young people suffer
an identity crisis and that peer groups help them to
overcome this.
Using the PEAE formula…
1.
Explain the term ‘rite of passage’
2.
Explain two important functions that youth
culture serves according to Einstadt and
Abrams.
3.
Provide everyday examples for each point
4. Analyse and evaluate each point
Youth Culture as resistance to
mainstream culture
•
Marxists believe that some youth cultures have
evolved as a resistance to the oppression of capitalism
and the inequalities it causes in the class system.
•
Teddy Boys (Jefferson 1976)
•
Skinheads (Clarke 1976)
•
Hippies (Brake 1980)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRhW2CyrqhQ
•
Have all been linked to issues of class.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfxA9Bp6ds4
•
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJT7tIICqhY
Youth Subcultures
NEO-MARXIST
•
Neo-Marxist perspective on Youth Sub-
cultures – based on Marxism but with added
focus on economic factors e.g
Hall working for the CCCS believed that the
different youth cultures exist for adolescents to
distinguish themselves amongst mass culture.
This can be seen as a form of resistance to
authority and capitalism.
Jefferson (1976) “Teddy Boys”- A group who
wish to recreate a sense of working class
community- due to the growing affluence in
post war British society- These youth cultures
believed they were gaining status and
protecting territory…
Neo Marxist
•
They criticise Functionalist perspectives which
say that social class is irrelevant to the growth
of youth sub-cultures.
•
They explain the arise of some youth sub-
culture in terms of class related issues like:-
•
Unemployment in w/c type jobs e.g
labouring
•
Inner city decay
•
Strikes
Read page 254-255 of OCR book and
write a paragraph explaining these
concepts related to Marxist view of
youth sub-culture. Include a
researcher’s name.
•
Resistance
•
Exaggeration
•
Magical Solutions
•
Incorporation
Essay Plan – Discuss the view that youth cultures are a
form of resistance (35)
•
Intro- Marxists and Neo-Marxists believe that youth cultures emerge
because of inequalities caused by capitalism. Other sociologists like
Functionalist say the purpose of youth culture is to provide transition to
adulthood (Rite of passage). However many youth cultures have been
linked to class struggles and deviance.
•
P1 – Jefferson and Teddy Boys linked to low status + criticisms and analysis
•
P2 – Clarke and Skinheads + criticisms and analysis
•
P3 - Brake and Hippies + criticisms and analysis
•
P4 – Post Modernist, Thornton says club culture of the 1990s more to do
with being ‘cool’ than class + criticisms and analysis
•
P5 – We still have names for lower-class youth cultures ! What about
London Riots of 2011 – evidence of resistance?
•
Conclusion – Are youth cultures a form of resistance to capitalism or not?
•
REMEMBER TO LINK EACH POINT TO THE QUESTION !!!!!
Functionalist and Neo-Marxist perspectives on youth culture offer contrasting views on its purpose in society. Functionalist theorists emphasize the role of youth culture in providing a transitional phase for young people, aiding in their social integration and development of independence. On the other hand, Neo-Marxist viewpoints highlight how certain youth subcultures emerge as a form of resistance to capitalist oppression and class inequalities. The discussion delves into the functions served by youth culture, including social integration, identity formation, and economic contribution, while also exploring its role in challenging mainstream societal norms. The analysis provides a comprehensive understanding of the complex interactions between youth culture and broader social structures.
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Presentation Transcript
Functionalist and Neo-Marxist views on the purpose of youth culture. Big Picture Does youth culture provide a positive function for society?
What function do you think youth culture serves? Think about how youth has changed since WWII and what need you think youth culture satisfies. Functionalists believe that youth culture offers young people a transitory phase between childhood and adulthood. This allows for social integration. What would happen if there was no phase?
A Rite of passage Talcott Parsons (1954) Functionalist , stated that this phase allows young people to become more separated from parents paving the way for independence later on. Example part-time job whilst in 6thform provides a little experience of money management. Parsons viewed this as a phase through which all young people must pass.
A shared way of life Functionalists believe that shared culture is important for society and integration. Einstadt (1956) suggested youth culture binds young people together and also provides an outlet for the tensions felt by the young. Abrahms (1959) after WWII the youth had more spending power and so became an important part of the economy providing another function in society. A third function suggested is that young people suffer an identity crisis and that peer groups help them to overcome this.
Using the PEAE formula 1. Explain the term rite of passage 2. Explain two important functions that youth culture serves according to Einstadt and Abrams. 3. Provide everyday examples for each point 4. Analyse and evaluate each point
Youth Culture as resistance to mainstream culture Marxists believe that some youth cultures have evolved as a resistance to the oppression of capitalism and the inequalities it causes in the class system. Teddy Boys (Jefferson 1976) Skinheads (Clarke 1976) Hippies (Brake 1980) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRhW2CyrqhQ Have all been linked to issues of class. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfxA9Bp6ds4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJT7tIICqhY
Youth Subcultures NEO-MARXIST
Neo-Marxist perspective on Youth Sub- cultures based on Marxism but with added focus on economic factors e.g Hall working for the CCCS believed that the different youth cultures exist for adolescents to distinguish themselves amongst mass culture. This can be seen as a form of resistance to authority and capitalism. Jefferson (1976) Teddy Boys - A group who wish to recreate a sense of working class community- due to the growing affluence in post war British society- These youth cultures believed they were gaining status and protecting territory
Neo Marxist They criticise Functionalist perspectives which say that social class is irrelevant to the growth of youth sub-cultures. They explain the arise of some youth sub- culture in terms of class related issues like:- Unemployment in w/c type jobs e.g labouring Inner city decay Strikes
Read page 254-255 of OCR book and write a paragraph explaining these concepts related to Marxist view of youth sub-culture. Include a researcher s name. Resistance Exaggeration Magical Solutions Incorporation
Essay Plan Discuss the view that youth cultures are a form of resistance (35) Intro- Marxists and Neo-Marxists believe that youth cultures emerge because of inequalities caused by capitalism. Other sociologists like Functionalist say the purpose of youth culture is to provide transition to adulthood (Rite of passage). However many youth cultures have been linked to class struggles and deviance. P1 Jefferson and Teddy Boys linked to low status + criticisms and analysis P2 Clarke and Skinheads + criticisms and analysis P3 - Brake and Hippies + criticisms and analysis P4 Post Modernist, Thornton says club culture of the 1990s more to do with being cool than class + criticisms and analysis P5 We still have names for lower-class youth cultures ! What about London Riots of 2011 evidence of resistance? Conclusion Are youth cultures a form of resistance to capitalism or not? REMEMBER TO LINK EACH POINT TO THE QUESTION !!!!!
