We talked about the subculture of surfers in class, so I'll start with that one.
What does it take to be part of the surfer subculture? My vote would be growing up near the beach, surfing since you can remember. Of course the subculture is also defined by the boardshorts, board, tan, laid back attitude, and lean body; however, the sense of entitlement since birth seems to be the most important. Focusing on class discussion, as well as Professor Cutri's documentary, I think it's safe to say that some mainlanders feel like they're discriminated against when surfing in Hawai'i. Some would even go so far as to argue that they're not accepted into the subculture because they are not in the "blue blood" group (so to speak) of the surfers. Maybe it's different in CA, but for this post, we'll stick to HI surfers.
I would like to contrast the subculture of surfers now to the subculture of business executives.
Business executives are the top dogs in their industry. They, like surfers, have a distinctive look as well--wears a sharp suit and tie every day, golfs on weekends, uses a blackberry or iPhone, drives a nice car, and vacations in tropical places during the holidays. We occasionally hear the stories of the Bill Gates' of our world who are able to rise from nearly nothing to the business leaders that they are today. However, most execs come from the "blue blood" of this subculture. While they allow the occasional newcomer such as Bill Gates to enter their subculture, it's tough to get in without an inside friend.
The same is especially true for politicians. Almost every politician has the same look and comes from money and a family name. Most would not be able to get into this subculture as far as they have without the support of their friends and family who are already accepted into the subculture.
My argument is that ALL subcultures have a sense of entitelement that comes with the founders, the "blue blood," of each culture. It doesn't matter if it's the surfers, business execs, or politicians, each finds it easier to accept an individual into their subculture if they feel they have an entitelment to that group. And each group finds it hard to accept another individual into their group who does not fit that mold...even if they are a "blue blood" of another group.
So here's my question: what subculture do you most identify with and why? Was it due to your parent's influence? friends? And, have you ever shunned a newcomer to the group because you didn't think they fit the mold?
34 comments:
I don't associate myself with any one subculture. I have tried to be accepting of everyone. Everyone deep down just wants to be accepted so I like learning about others and their ideals and life experiences by conversing with them.
I kind of look at this question differently as I used to try to fit in with the skater subculture. It was mostly because of my friends, who for the most part, were skaters themselves. I did get a lot of flack from the "blued bloods" of skaters since I really couldn't skate.
In high school I was among the jocks. Now I am part of the Zoobie subculture. I look at my shirts I have and the vary from Hurley to Nike. I'm not sure what subculture I belong to right now.
In high school I probably belonged to the girl jocks, but now I'm not sure. I think it's harder to see sub cultures in university because I tend to see less cliques, but who knows! Maybe I just don't care anymore. But I didn't care who came in our group since I tended to drift into many groups myself - music, brains, skater, jock, etc.
I am what psychologists refer to as a "Third Culture Kid," which is defined as "someone who [as a child] has spent a significant period of time in one or more culture(s) other than his or her own, thus integrating elements of those cultures and their own birth culture, into a third culture." This is probably the subculture that I most associate with or belong to.
I believe that swimmers are their own subculture. And the "legit" swimmers who competed at the National or Collegiate level do look down on those who talk about when they swam in high school or claim to know so much about the sport. We may not do it openly, but we definitely communicate it and are annoyed by wannabe's. Call me a swimming snob, but I guarantee if I attempted to pretend to know something I knew little about and you knew a lot, you would feel the same way towards me. Just sayin'...
The "snow" culture seems like a subculture... and then snowboarding came and those guys were the sub-sub culture of that. Then when snowboarding became more mainstream, the youth skiing were the subculture. That was in like 98-2002. Now, I'm happy to say, that those two sud-sub cultures have blended together again. But I was involved in all that. People who tried to be a part of it, but were not we called "bruce." "Bruce" was the guy that came to the mountain only on weekends, had all the expensive gear and talked big, but was not hard-core enough. There are alot of Bruces, and we hated when they took the fresh powder.
To be honest, in high school I'm not sure I belonged to any set sub culture. I was involved in different activities that helped me get to know various people. For instance, I cheered and played softball, was in Student Council, and participated in other clubs. I think you miss out on alot of opportunities to meet great people when you limit yourself to one distinct group. However, for now I belong to the Provo subculture. not for long though...
i guess i participate most with the "i'm growing older but don't want to lose my childhood dream" old man softball players. I play in the provo town league and love to see that some of these men who are 40, 50, or 60 get mad at themselves when they can't do the things they did when they were 25.
i think i mostly identify with elephants. terribly misunderstood creatures, but still rad.
Since high school I have been shopping at thrift stores. Even though my wardrobe has become less and less thrift store apparel, it is a elite club I feel a part of. Other people I have met that also thrift store shop I feel a sense of brotherhood with them. However, whenever I spot another thrifter shopping at the same time I am, its a race to the hidden treasures. Thats when being a thrifter gets ugly.
After thinking about it, I don't really know what subculture I belong to. I don't really fit into the "zoobie" Provo subculture or the "I am too cool for Provo, so why am I here" subculture. I am probably somewhere in the middle. I think it's better just to be friends with everyone and try not to label yourself in a certain group.
I don't think I fit in with a specific subculture right now. I guess in high school I was a theater geek so I could be classified in that subculture. But I don't think I fit in to any one right now. I tend to do lots of different things and with different people. But who knows, I agree with Megan that perhaps the reason I don't fit in with any subculture groups right now, is because I just don't care. I don't care what I am classified as so I don't really pay any attention.
I think that lots of us belong to a subculture that is peculiar to members of the LDS church. We do many things to "keep our standards high" that may seem strange to those outside the culture. It is often for outsiders (or recent converts) to assimilate in to our group.
I associate myself with the subcultures of mormons,BYU, and being really really ridiculously awesome and humble, but mostly awesome!
i identify with any opinion leaders. i seek out the new. the now. and the next.
In high school I had my skater friends, my teammates with the sports I played but the subculture that ruled my life is two-fold.
Snowboarding was huge for me. I quit whatever job I had come December so I could ride as much as possible. Once the mountain closed I'd once again be employed planning on next year. It really is a lifestyle and mindset. What are your priorities?
I come from an athletic family - one year (I don't have sisters) we all got football pads. None of us played on a city team but just in our back yard - our parents finally decided would keep playing so might as well protect them. I love sports but I also love Cinematography - or film which is another subculture that defines me.
Filming snowboarding = dream job? pretty much.
I don't feel I identify with any one subculture right now. In high school, my friends and I were really driven. Most of us did a combination of music, leadership, academic clubs and sports. I'm not sure if there's a subculture for that.
I'm not exactly sure what subcultures I'm a part of, either. I'm likely a classic example of the Mormon subculture and that will become more apparent when I move away from Utah.
I was probably in the "jock" crowd in high school but that can't identify you for the rest of your life. Now I don't think I'm one thing most...moderation in all, right?
I always shun people because they aren't like me. duh...
No really though, this class has made me think about which subcultures I belong to. Depending on the day I am a gangster, gym rat, zoobie, hipster, boater, tennis watcher, mac user, dancer. Probably dancing is the most exclusive group..if the director doesn't like you the girls will be snotty to you and you will be intimidated into utter uncoordination.
Right now I cannot think of any subculture I am associated with, but in High School being a mormon meant being part of subculture... I had a few more friend that were lds as well, and we would stick together creating our own group and identity... And that is the only subculture I believe I was part of..
I don't think there's this ONE specific subculture that defines anyone...its just a part of who we are...not what we are. I identify with many things, but to pick one would be denying everything else.
I think it is really difficult to place yourself in a subculture. I think that we would all like to think that we are not part of any subculture and that we are exceptional and unique. However, I think we might place each other into different categories. I think that some people who look at me and group me with all the others jocks. However, what other people see probably isn't what I feel I am. A lot of the influence that has made me who I am comes from my brothers since I spent most of my time with them growing up. So whoever anyone may think I am, it is my brothers fault not mine for being the way I am.
i would say i am a member of the soccer elitist subculture, even though in most of the world it could hardly be considered "sub." and yes, i get exclusive when people say they're a big fan, or that they follow a certain team or player... in the words of MTV, they think they know, but they have no idea.
I think sub cultures are silly, but we probably have all been snagged by one or two in our lifetimes. I personally would rather be a part of several groups rather than just one. I guess right now in my life I am in the BYU subculture, but aren't we all?
When I first got to high school I tried really hard to fit into the surfer subculture. I thought that was what I most identified with and so I would have around the "surfer" table during lunch. In California, being mormon was actually another subculture and of such significance it merited its own table. Midway through my freshman year I found that whether I wanted to admit it or not I identified most with the mormon table and I didnt have to try to fit in, that is who I was. So I realized I could simply be a mormon surfer and bliss was had.
i am not sure if a identify with a particlau subculture, if I was born in the states i would identify with cowboys, their way of life is my type of life for sure.
I think everyone is a member of a sub culture, whether they want to be or not. I am not sure which sub cultures I am really a part of and which ones I just want to be a part of, bit I think sub cultures often serve to help us define ourselves.
I'm not sure what group I belonged to in high school or now because I don't like to take notice of someone for the group they put themselves in. I think it is overrated.
During my first year of highschool: goth. Then I found a new subculture: the mormons. Joining the church definitely changed my perspective...
I don't know what subculture I belong to. Honestly, it's a question I have never asked myself. I feel like I am well rounded and don't have any dominate hobbies. I love sports, but I'm not a jock. I love fishing, but I'm not a hillbilly. I love backpacking but I'm not a bushman. I like participating in tons of different activities.
Wow, this was a really enlighting blog. I dunno, I still think "Mormon" is a subculture. Eventhough there isn't a defineite "trend" that we follow, Mormon's still have a standard of dress, a set of beliefs, and a "culture" if you will..but maybe that's just in Utah. Back home I would never consider my religion part of a subculture, but here it seems to be that way. Anyways, I don't know if I'd label myself with any subculutre...hmmm...at all...I guess I'm pretty eclectic in my tastes so I don't dedicate myself to one style and say "this is me."
It is interesting to see what subcultures I have evolved to as I have gotten older. In high school it was easy; I was a jock. Now I think I am trying to figure out who I want to become as I get older and more "mature."
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