Subcultures as symptoms of the new dimension of class conflict
Reading Cohen (1972) and ‘Resistance through Rituals’ (1976)


Problematic changes – task 1
•Instead of improving the living conditions of the working class, the set of changes presented as
‘modernization’ caused number of problems. •Put down a list of problems as suggested in Cohen’s
text. •You can proceed by filling in a provisional table of two columns: CHANGES => PROBLEMS

What went wrong? – task 2
•P.87-88 “If someone should ask why the plan to ‘modernize’ the pattern of East End life should
have been such a disaster […] the reasons are complex. They are political in so far as the system
does not allow for any effective participation by local working-class community in the
decision-making process at any stage or level of planning.”

What went wrong? – task 2
•P.88 “[…] the plans are unconsciously modelled on the structure of the middle-class environment
[..]” •What difference does Cohen draw between the middle-class and the working-class way of
living? •Why should these two distinct life styles be in conflict? (see RTR p.11-13)

Between cultures
•What is the meaning of the ‘dominant culture’ and the ‘parent culture’? (consult RTR p.10-12,
Cohen p.89-90)
•Observe some of the influential ideas on so-called ‘mass culture’ (RTR p.18-19, see quotes!)
•Finally, consider how are young working-class boys positioned vis-à-vis the dominant/parent and
mass culture.
•

Youth Culture as a threat
clockwork-orange-1971--large-msg-130281966791.jpg


Youth Culture as a portent of a more just society?
•“the persistent and insistent ‘never had it so good’ ideology” (RTR p.22)
•OR
•“the affluence-consensus-embourgeoisement thesis” (RTR p.31)
•
•How do you understand these terms? How does Cohen’s study problematize them?

Understanding subcultures
•Find in Cohen’s text potential definitions of subcultures (p.89-91)!
•
•Let’s clarify these propositions and link them into a coherent explanation – What is the meaning
of subcultures for Cohen? How do they emerge? What solutions do they propose? Why are they seen as
imperfect solutions? Etc.
•

Beyond understanding… analysis and critique
•Concept-theory-argument-discussion…
•
•Locate weak points in Cohen’s understanding of subcultures! •Think of examples that prove his
explanation wrong… Show inconsistencies in his reasoning… What are the limits of his subculture
theory? Etc.
•

Youth Culture – a threat or promise?
Exercise in interpretation
•https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LvCe38CsVU
•Offer an interpretation of this video – or rather couple of interpretations: 1) you may think in
line with ‘mass culture’ critiques, 2) argue as a proponent of subcultural resistance (winning the
space, staging an underlying conflict with hegemonic forces, using mass cultural items
creatively…), 3) or ?