Friday, 18 February 2011

B Boys



This generation is yet another subculture that has been influenced by dance. This era stemmed from the hip hop culture of the 1970's, the term B. Boy refers to a group of people who enjoy break-dancing. This particular group of people often sport sports wear such as Adidas Original tracksuits, good dancing trainers, knee protectors, woolly hat or base balls caps. This particular style of dance evolved amongst the black and Latino Americans community in the Bronx and went on to dominate the dance community in other parts of America .


Goth



The Goth generation began in the late 1980's, this subculture was hugely influenced by aesthetics such as heavily worn dark make up and powdered white skin, finishing the look off by wearing dark clothing.To add to this dark Gothic look they were often covered in piercings and tattoo's. Many recognised this subculture to be somewhat enforced by dark Dracula gore type movies, they were compared to the 19th century romanticism era. Dark music with a lot passion was the kind listened to by this particular subculture, for example Southern Death Cult, Lamb of the God and The Cure.


Wednesday, 16 February 2011

Club Kids

The Club Kids were a group of young New York City club personalities mostly led by Michael Alig and James St. James in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The group were eccentric, wildly flamboyant and were notable for their elaborate and outrageous costumes and rampant drug use of ecstasy, ketamine, cocaine and heroin. Due to there outrageous, over the top, often risqué outfits the club kids club scene was hugely popular among drag queens and transgendered individuals. The Club Kids gained international notoriety, and influenced party scenes around the world. Club Kid-themed parties still take place in various night clubs to this day.


Punk

The punk subculture emerged in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia in the mid-1970s. Exactly which region originated punk has long been a major controversy within the movement. Punks seek to outrage others with the highly theatrical use of clothing, hairstyles, cosmetics, tattoos, jewellery and body modification. Early punk fashion adapted everyday objects for aesthetic effect . Ripped clothing was held together by safety pins or wrapped with tape, ordinary clothing was customized by embellishing it with marker or adorning it with paint. A black bin liner became a dress, shirt or skirt, safety pins and razor blades were used as jewellery.

Neo-Victorian


Neo-Victorian is an aesthetic movement which combines Victorian and Edwardian aesthetic sensibilities with modern principles and technologies. Steampunk is also seen as grouped under this category which came into prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. Steampunk is a sub-genre of science-fiction, alternate history and speculative fiction that involves an era or world where steampower is still widely used.
Many who have adopted Neo-Victorian/Steampunk styles have also adopted Victorian behavioural affectations such as pronunciation and Victorian conduct. These styles and cultures can be seen in poular 21st century films such as Lemony Snicket's A Series Of Unfortunate Events and Sweeney Todd.

Skinheads

Skinheads started with working class youths in the uk, in the 1960's. They were greatly influenced by the fashion, music and lifestyles of the West Indians, Rude Boys and British Mods. Skinheads have always been one to have strong opinons on race and politics which often caused a clash with Hippies. Although a skinhead-usually dressed in a checked shirt, braces and levis or lee jeans and Dr Marten boots, is a subculture itself there are a few different types, Trojan Skinheads which adopt the original style from the 1960's, Oi! skinheads influenced by the 1970's punk subculture- often have more tattoos or shorter hair, or there is the Hardcore Skinheads that originated in the United States in the 1980's taken from the hardcore punks.


Burlesque

Burlesque is about glamour, performance, vintage and Dita Von Teese! Dita Von Teese who is frequently labeled "The Queen of Burlesque" often wore a corset meaning that her natural waistline of 22 inches could be laced down to a tiny 16.5 inches! In the 18th century the word Burlesque was used to describe musical work although now we assiociate it with dances being provocative and strippers. However it all started in the 1840's through to the 1960's which saw a rich souce in music and comedy which entertained the American and Great Britain audience. The performances would be watched by the lower and middle classes which would involve quick-whitted humour laced with puns and opera music often mock the upper class. Berlesque could also come under Fetishists as a Subculture but i found it really interesting, therfore could be a subculture by itself!!


Harajuku kids

Harajuku kids adopt the idea of infusing multiple looks and styles to create a unique form of dress. Harajuku, in Tokyo, became an area at the end of World War II where curious young people flocked to experience a different culture. Apartments built in 1958 were quickly occupied by fashion designers, models and photographers and in 1964 when the Olympics came to tokyo, the idea of 'Harajuku' became to take a more solid shape.
Different types of Harajuku kids include ganguro, a style that symbolizes the average American teenager and is often inspired by Californian girls with fake eyelashes, fake nails, bleached hair and dark skin. Cosplay is more costume-based and is usually based on a fictional or iconic character from a band, games, movie or anime. Punk style in Harajuku is more of a fashion then a statement but they still wear dark colours, chains, zips e.t.c

Americana


The concept of Americana became popular overseas before it hit home (America). It has been speculated that recognizing heritage, long - term value and quality has created a long need for the nostalgia of an era where it once existed while facing certain times worldwide in the 2000's.
Americana fashion describes 1950's revival clothing combined with Ralph Lauren, deck shoes, ties and nautical touches.
The trend arrived in 2006 and gained popularity by designers including Michael Kors, Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren.
Other features of Americana include Ray Ban Wayfarers, levis jeans, gingham and the banded straw hat.

Rockers



Starting in the 1950's, the Rocker Subculture came about due to many coinciding reasons; the end of post war rationing in the UK, a rise in prosperity for working class youths, recent availability of financing for young people, an influence of American Popular music and a peak in British motorcycle engineering.
The Rockers were in direct conflict with the Mods and were often called 'Greasers' by them as an insult.
They were mainly centered around cafe racer motorcycles and Rock and Roll music. Rockers took what was a sport and turned it into a lifestyle, dropping out of mainstream society and rebelling.
They immersed themselves in Rock and Roll music and fashions and began to be known much for their devotion to music - they favoured 1950's to early 60's artists such as Elvis Presley, Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry.

Mod


The Mod Subculture originated in London in the late 1950's and peaked in the mid 60's followed by a revival in North America and South California in the 1980's.
Elements of the Mod Subculture include fashion such as tailor - made suits, chelsea boots, wing tips, loafers and Harrington jackets, as well as clothes by popular 'Mod' labels Ben Sherman, Lambretta and Fred Perry.
They favoured Modern Jazz and American Blues music and also British bands such as The Jam.
Their culture was much about the relationship between fashion and music - clothing had to be suited to amphetamine fuelled nights dancing at clubs.
The Mod era emerged from a desire among the British Youth to break away from the stiffness of the 50's and the uncouth look of the teddy boys and to emulate the more stylish Italian and French fashions.
Their look was all about the detail - 3 buttons on a suit with the bottom one left undone, a handkerchief in the breast pocket...it was smooth, stylish and sophisticated.


Tuesday, 15 February 2011

Hippies


The HIPPIE subculture started out in the United States in the mid 1960’s. It didn’t take long for the subculture to spread all over the world and divide people into their own social groups and communities. They often embraced sexual revolution, freedom; love not war and drugs such as marijuana and LSD which they claimed were for religious and spiritual use. Hippie values had a huge impact on television, film, the arts and most of all music. Music festivals began in the USA in 1965 where thousands of hippies would attend. “Acid Tests” where the Grateful Dead played became so popular that the Hippies formed their own subculture called the Deadhead Community; other festivals such as “Summer of Love” became the break for introducing rock music and counterculture. Towards the end of the twentith century, yet another subculture emerged within the hippie subculture called “cyber hippies” this included qualities from the 60’s psychedelic counterculture. In the late 1960’s hippies were often attacked by the working class skinheads but were also attacked by other subcultures such as punks, mods, greasers and teddy boys, this was due to political views.
Grateful Dead, lyrics from "That's It for the Other One"
Escapin' through the lily fields
I came across an empty space
It trembled and exploded
Left a bus stop in its place
The bus came by and I got on
That's when it all began
There was cowboy Neal
At the wheel
Of a bus to never-ever land