"The meaning of subculture, then, is always in dispute, and style is the arena in which opposing definitions clash with the most dramatic force."

                            --Dick Hebdige. Subculture: The Meaning of Style--

As virtually any concept, the boundaries and precise definition of it are always in flux. Similarly, “subculture” simultaneously conjures up a clear image of groups of people dressing and acting in a style different from most others and offers some difficulties in definition. Is a subculture part of society or does it oppose it? Is a subculture fixed, or will it need to evolve in order to remain a viable subculture? Howard Becker’s influential text Outsiders, published in 1963, offers one of the first insights into this topic. Becker focuses on the idea of “outsiders”, who then in turn, when functioning as a group, can form a culture different from the dominant one.

Becker defines outsiders as individuals who break rules that are generally agreed upon by society. Social groups tend to create rules and attempt to establish them in societies. Social rules provide a certain social structure for individuals. They indicate what is appropriate behavior, and what is inappropriate and outside of the norm. When an individual breaks a certain rule, they are seen as special, or even exceptional kind of person, which could be perceived as positive, however, more likely such an exceptional person is now seen as someone who cannot be trusted any more because the person is not willing to conform to the rules that everyone understands and plays by, and thus is regarded as a deviant and as an ‘outsider’. When such “outsiders” form a subculture, however, this subculture in turn also runs by particular rules, norms and behaviors, and in that sense functions similarly to the dominant culture. Additionally, Becker also emphasizes that these “outsiders” are still strongly guided by values and norms, but these simply differ from the values that guide the dominant society. Hence, the rule breaker might perceive the dominant  group, the “rule-creator”, as an outsider.

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Figure 1: Functioning of Culture Diagram

Subcultures are perhaps most noticeable in youth cultures, perhaps because adolescence is a time to contest boundaries, and often, but not always, form around music genres. Punk was a music genre and subculture that interested me greatly at an earlier time in my life and I adhered to some of the fashion, practices and actions and that make punk ‘Punk’. The punk scene very much differs from what is seen as normative in our society and is generally labeled as ‘deviant’ by others, but this label is also regarded as a badge of honor by punks: Being deviant is crucial the the punk identity. The fashion for instance, is an absolute opposite of what is seen as acceptable. The ripped jeans, wild hair and heavy boots are very much in contrast with the norm, which shows in the battle to wear such outfits to school or the workplace. I clearly remember being called out by the principal to take out my safety pins, to leave my heavy chains at home, and to censor the “fuck” in “fuck the police” that was written on my bag.

The latter brings me to another aspect of punk subculture, namely its use of explicit language. The language, whether it is written or spoken, consists of phrases such as, ‘fuck the police’, DIY (Do It Yourself), ‘Oi Oi Oi’ or perhaps, the most known phrase, ‘punk’s not dead’. Furthermore, the written language often uses specific fonts, and combines the of small and capital letters at random, thus opposing the normative rules of writing. The mentioned phrase, fuck the police, is a clear indicator that the members of punk scene regard themselves as rule breakers, since it directly addresses, in a confrontational manner, the group that is to ensure the rules and laws of normative society are upheld, followed and adhered to by all. Punk expresses an ideology of absolute freedom and equality, and even anarchy, which is of course another reason for members of the punk subculture to seek confrontation with the enforcers of laws that limit individual freedom and insist on hierarchical structures. In addition to the earlier mentioned expressions of style and taste (in “punk” music), this belief in, and understanding of, freedom and anarchy is essential to be “authentically punk”.

References:

Becker, H. Outsiders: studies in the sociology of deviance. New York, NY: Macmillan Publishing Company. 1963

Hebdige, Dick. Subculture: The Meaning of Style (1979). Routledge, 2002