Abstract
What is “subculture?” How can participation in subcultures entail both inclusion and exclusion? Do online subcultures share similarities with those rooted in space and place? In Youth Cultures and Subcultures, Sarah Baker, Brady Robards, and Bob Buttigieg bring together an assortment of empirical, theoretical, and methodological papers on Australian youth and their subcultural practices. Four distinct sections—focused on theory, space/place, gender, and methods—provide insight into both how youth find belonging and how researchers approach this unique topic. From roller derby to nightclubbing, hip-hop to DIY “grrlpower,” this collection highlights the variety of theAustralian youth subcultural landscape.
Many papers explore inequality within and surrounding various youth subcultures: Lebanese youth in Australia navigate specific racial and ethnic tensions, and young women often find themselves sidelined when engaging in straightedge and hardcore music scenes. Authors also interrogate the role of social media and the Internet in creating identities and facilitating subcultures, encouraging readers to think critically about the complexity of subculture, identity, expression, and belonging. While young feminists find voices and empowerment on blogs and social media platforms, other young women use social media to express pain, isolation, and internal struggle. Similarly, while many subcultural spaces help young men cultivate alternative masculinities, they often serve to reify gender hierarchy.
Qualitative methods, especially ethnography, predominate; yet the book also features quantitative research, a discussion and application of archival research, and reflections on ethical considerations. This collection of essays provides a glimpse into the diversity of Australia’s youth subcultures and offers theoretical and methodological approaches that will benefit both Australian and non-Australian scholars interested in qualitative and contemporary theoretical youth and media studies.