Analysis of Youth Culture and Subculture: A Sociological Essay

This essay provides a comprehensive analysis of youth culture and subculture, examining the lifestyles, ethics, and principles followed by adolescents and their impact on society. The essay begins with an introduction defining culture and subculture, followed by a literature review that explores various sociological theories related to youth subcultures, including Marxist and postmodern perspectives. It then delves into the influence of globalization, the portrayal of youth in modern media, and the impact of contemporary youth on society, including discussions on consumerism, technology, and social inequalities. The essay concludes by summarizing the key findings, identifying gaps in existing literature, and offering recommendations for future research, emphasizing the need to understand the evolving trends within youth culture and subculture to predict their future impact on a globalized society. The essay also includes a list of references for further study.

Running head: YOUTH CULTURE AND SUB-CULTURE
Youth Culture and Sub-culture
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Notes

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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Literature review..............................................................................................................................2
Theory related to the youth subculture........................................................................................2
Globalization and youth culture and subculture..........................................................................3
Concept of Youth Culture as portrayed in modern media...........................................................5
The impact of modern youth within the society..........................................................................6
Conclusion, Gaps and Recommendations for Future Study............................................................7
Reference.........................................................................................................................................8

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Introduction
The purpose of the study of youth culture is to understand the lifestyles and ethics or
principles that are followed by the adolescents, which is ultimately responsible for shaping up
their future. The culture is defined as the shared symbol that is used to describe the typical
lifestyle habits that exist within a community. The youth belonging to the same culture is
supposed to have common developmental pathway that defines their future. The subculture of
youth defines a unique and distinct style and behavior that they follow. The current study aims
to analyze the existing literature related to that of the youth culture and sub-culture that is
relevant to their lifestyle and behavior. In conclusion, the existing gaps of the literature along
with the recommendations for future study will be provided.
Literature review
Theory related to the youth subculture
The study of Blackman (2005) has suggested that the ideas of post-modernists have been
hired from that of the theoretical concepts that are provided by Max Weber, Jean Baudrillard,
and Michel Maffesoli. It is important to focus on the social structure of individual community
that will help in the matter of critical thinking and formulate a well-balanced social theory.
According to the Marxist theory of youth culture, it is essential to understand the
underpinned issues of oppress the needs of the adolescents. It also suggests that the lack of
power within the working class of the society is one of the major issues that can deny the cultural
rights of the youths (Agger 2014). There is also the Miliband’s interpretation, which suggests

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that most of the economic and political context needs to be accounted to understand the role of
media and its influence on the youth culture.
In the context of the modern global youth culture, it is essential to analyze the hybrid
nature of the youth culture that can help in the matters of providing detailed information related
to the youth study. With the increasing popularity of films, television shows and contemporary
music, the youths are engaging in more number of cultural activities. According to Hazlehurst
(2018), it is essential for the social culture analyst and theorists to understand the values of each
culture in the lifestyle and development of the youths. With the advancement of globalization,
the youths of the modern days can get the opportunity to broaden up their concepts. This is
mostly due to the information that is available to the public. The Centre for Contemporary
Cultural Studies can emphasize upon the hegemonic and generational concepts related with that
of the diverse subcultures among the modern youths.
According to the views of progressive postmodern diversity, hybridized
cosmopolitanism, and proliferation of voices, youths can be empowered by the elements of
culture and subculture. This can be achieved by providing new type of cultural opportunities.
The modern Global youth cannot also be separated from the critique of political economy. The
Global culture is also attempting to replace many local beliefs among the youths of minority
communities. This is achieved with the view of Universal and liberal support. This can also be
linked with geopolitical countries that are needed to understand most of the important matters
related to that of the globalisation.

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Globalization and youth culture and subculture
The main purpose of sociology study in youth subculture establish relationship between
the everyday experience and that of the contemporary theories. According to Moje (2016), the
parent's occupation and education level play an important role in deciding upon the elements of
youth culture. It is important to mention that in spite of globalization in the modern days there
are significant difference between societies across the world that can result in the formation of
different type of Youth Culture and subculture. The difference in the education system is one of
the major cause of the difference in the cultural elements. It is essential for the sociologists to
understand the difference within the education system of each community that will help them to
better evaluate the impact of education among the youth in the society. Gavrilyuk et al. (2016),
have agreed upon the viewpoint that most of the education system before in the Western
Community compared to that in sub-continental areas. This is evident from the difference in the
social class that exists within each of the community in Western and Eastern region.
The example of Punk subculture in England society can be mentioned in the given
context. The unemployment that occurs within the Punk subculture affected the education level
of the youths. There was also high level of social Indifference in 1970s that affected the cultural
and intellectual growth of youths belonging to Punk subculture.
One of the main purposes of the Global culture is to understand the difference in ideas in
each of the youth subculture. The Global culture also seeks to attempt to understand the
difference in the cultural aspects and thereby apply the ideas in development of the modern
society. According to Omenugha et al. (2016), the process of globalisation has brought about

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both opportunity and threats to various types of local Youth Culture and subculture. The
globalisation is believed to have the power to exponentially increase the element of imperialism,
which can highlight up on the drawbacks in each Youth Culture. The social-cultural analyst has
studied on the impact of globalisation on the youth cultural element in developed countries and it
has helped to bring about the changes within the mind-set of modern youth across various Global
communities. People across various communities have a strong opinion that transforming to
adulthood is highly challenging in the modern context. This is mainly due to the high level of
political influence that is common to various culture and subculture in global community.
Nevertheless, Giroux (2016), has argued that with the popularization in democratic culture most
of the youths across the global society are able to improve upon the level of awareness in
understanding various aspect of society. They are also able to motivate themselves to take part in
an important position in the global society. The higher level of cultural awareness can also be
developed within the youth by the element of democracy. This can help them to improve their
level of awareness within the youth society. This is also one of the major issues that can help to
deal with most of the cases related to that of the modern society. The social inequality that exists
across various society can also be resolved as youths can improve their level of cultural
awareness. This is mainly possible because the youths will now be able to distinguish the cultural
elements in each of the cases. Hence it will be possible to make the difference between the
positive and the negative aspects of the culture.
Concept of Youth Culture as portrayed in modern media
The modern media invest a significant amount of time within the element of empowering
the youth and identifying their influence over the society. With the advancement of consumerism

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within the society, the youth had a major impact on their lifestyle. According to Nayak (2016),
the modern media portrays the concept of youth as the source of empowerment that promises a
bright future for the Global community. Lukose (2014), has highlighted upon the fact that the
modern media uses the youth as one of the sources of inspiration that are needed to promote the
cultural values within each Global community. The press even promotes the cultural need of
youth in order to make business profit and bring about economic development. Buckingham et
al. (2015), have argued up on the fact that most of the global communities have the power to
understand the facts related to that of the development of Youth Culture. This is one of the
essential elements that can help in the matter of understanding the new cultural trends that are
occurring within the modern society.
The impact of modern youth within the society
The contemporary youth are believed to have a significant impact on the fast changing
global society. This is evident due to the fact that with the advancement of internet technology
and information age, the modern youth with their advanced culture and subculture can bring
about significant positive changes within the society. This may even include changing the mind-
set of adults by incorporating rational thinking ability. Jeffs (2015), has mentioned that the
rational thinking capability of the modern youths has brought about vast improvement in the
thinking aspects of the youths. The advanced level of Youth Culture is also believed to have
significant positive impact in removing all types of social trends.
The modern generation is also aware of the inequalities that exist within the society,
which is believed to be the main social stigma. With the improvement in the source of
availability of information, the youth are able to better understand the need for modern society.

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This is believed to have a positive impact upon the future of the global society, where it is
expected to have higher level of harmony.
On the other hand, Smakotina and Kornienko (2016), have argued upon the fact that
advancement of information age the youths are also able to make misuse of the same. This is
evident from the increased rate of crimes that are offering among adolescents individual. The
advanced level of Technology is providing them with the opportunity to involve in criminal
activities including hacking, getting involved in drug and other addiction activities. Hence, in the
given context one of the primary duty of social culture analyst is to identify the negative impact
of the modern society that can have on youths. This will help to ensure the less hateritism is
developed in the society that can have positive impact on the overall Global community for
future development.
Conclusion, Gaps and Recommendations for Future Study
The current literature has been able to effectively highlight the impact of Youth Culture
and subculture within the modern society. This idea can be related to the various theories related
to the Youth Culture and subculture. Nevertheless, with the advancement of modern society the
impact of the traditional theories was not properly applicable.
The gaps in the existing literature are mainly because it has not been able to relate the
ideas of modern youth with the practical impact. It has also not able to highlight upon the
negative impact that the future generation of Youth Culture and subculture may face. It is
recommended for the future researchers to understand the trends within the youth culture and
subculture. This will help them to predict all type of future change and their impact on the
society of globalization.

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Reference
Agger, B., 2014. Cultural studies as critical theory. Routledge.
Blackman, S., 2005. Youth subcultural theory: A critical engagement with the concept, its
origins and politics, from the Chicago school to postmodernism. Journal of youth studies, 8(1),
pp.1-20.
Buckingham, D., Bragg, S. and Kehily, M.J., 2015. Rethinking youth cultures in the age of
global media: a perspective from British youth studies. Diskurs Kindheits-und Jugendforschung,
10(3).
Gavrilyuk, T.V., Garabazhii, V.A., Gaisina, L.M., Gabdrakhmanova, L.N. and Burenina, I.V.,
2016. The Dynamics of the Global Youth Subcultures and Movements: the Russian Context.
Global Media Journal.
Giroux, H.A., 2016. Stealing innocence: Youth, corporate power and the politics of culture.
Springer.
Hazlehurst, K., 2018. Gangs and youth subcultures: International explorations. Routledge.
Jeffs, T., 2015. Innovation and youth work. Youth & Policy Special Edition No. 114: The Next
Five Years: Prospects for young people, pp.75-95.
Lukose, R.A., 2014. Youth and Globalization: Changing Trajectories of Culture and Politics. In
Youth Cultures in the Age of Global Media (pp. 37-52). Palgrave Macmillan, London.

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Moje, E.B., 2016. Youth literacy and cultural theories: A review of the science and implications
for policy. Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 3(1), pp.70-76.
Nayak, A., 2016. Race, place and globalization: Youth cultures in a changing world.
Bloomsbury Publishing.
Omenugha, K.A., Uzuegbunam, C.E. and Ndolo, I.S., 2016. Celebrity culture, media and the
Nigerian youth: negotiating cultural identities in a globalised world. Critical Arts, 30(2), pp.200-
216.
Smakotina, N.L. and Kornienko, O.Y., 2016, January. System of education and value
orientations of youth. In SHS Web of Conferences (Vol. 29). EDP Sciences.