Teenage Subcultures In Stoke On Trent free essay sample

Stoke-On-Trend, also known as The Potteries, is a city in Staffordshire situated in the West Midlands. Just like other cities, Stoke-On-Trend has diverse teenage subcultures, some well known and others not as popular. The oxford dictionary defines subculture as a cultural group within a larger culture, often having beliefs or interests at variance with those Of the larger culture (Oxford Dictionaries: 2013). In terms of subcultures, if you ask anyone from Stoke-On- Trend, most people would tell you its well known for its dominance of Chaps.However, thats just in certain areas. On visiting different places around Stoke-On-Trend you can begin to see an assorted group of different subcultures local teenagers are part of. One of the most popular areas in Stoke-on-Trend to show the teenage subculture of being a Chap is Crackled. Crackled is a small estate just to the side of Chesterton village. I Linking to the subculture of Chaps is the representation of youths in Stoke- On-Trend being best known for their drinking, smoking and public displays of affections on the streets. We will write a custom essay sample on Teenage Subcultures In Stoke On Trent or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page To an outside observer, the various teenage subcultures are only recognizable through pointers such as clothing and overall appearance, music preferences, behavior, language, and symbol use (Gerri A. ] van deer Iris, Ph. D. , Len S. ] Hansen, Ph. D. , Passable van Straiten, M. Sc. 2002:433). Symbol use is a key way to identify Teenage Subcultures in Stoke-On-Trend, specifically in Crackled. Picture two shows the use of graffiti as a mark of territory. The Crackled Republican Army began in the sasss when the AIR was in the news. It has recently been resurrected through social outworking sites on the internet.Members of the Crackled Republican Army (also known as the CRA) are well known for causing riots around not only Crackled but other surrounding estates. They are well known for leaving their mark through Graffiti. The CRA continue to cause local concern as certain individuals are going beyond antisocial behavior originally identified as playing up to the roll of being a Chap, but are now committing acts of serious violence altering the stereotype of Chaps. The teenage us Becquerel of being a Chap has spread through Stoke-On-Trend ore than any other subculture currently in the area. Surveys typically show that whilst a certain proportion of the public feel that the media may cause other people to engage in antisocial behavior, almost no-one ever says that they have been affected in that way themselves (David Gauntlet, 1998: 126 ). In Stoke-On-Trend however, specifically in the Waterways area, residents blame the media for publicizing the CRA and believe that its this that has brought on more groups such as the Waterways Republican Army, Brawled Republican Army and Talk Pits Republican Army. These groups, just like a typical army, decided to make their own group to defend their territory from other local estates.Another teenage subculture that dominates Stoke-On-Trend links to fantod. This subculture can be spotted not only in just one area of Stoke-On-Trend but all over. Stoke City FCC is the local football club based in Stoke-on-Trend. Stoke City PCs local rivals are Port Vale, based in the Burbles area of Stoke-On- Trend. Photograph four shows Britannica Stadium Home of Stoke City FCC. Gillie Rose argues that the way we become connected to a particular place is by a ailing that you belong to that place'(Gillie Rose, 1995: 89).By supporting home teams like Stoke City FCC and Port Vale, this teenage subculture projects a sense of belonging which represents part of their identity. Subcultures such as fantod of football in Stoke-On-Trend progress further than just the teenage part of their life. Being part of a football club becomes more than being part of a subculture and group but a way of life. Some examples of certain subculture groups in Stoke-on-Trend in relation to football fanned is football hooligans. According to the mirrors retreat league table (TomMacaque, 201 3: 1) for Stoke City FCC there were 32 arrests by the club over 201 3 in regards for fighting, drunken disorderly and more. For Port Vale there was 19 arrests. The teenage subculture of Indies is also popular in Stoke-an-Trend. The Indies subculture is predominantly noticed in Hanley at The Sugarplum. The term Indies refers to an obscure form of rock through which teenage subcultures establish themselves. Picture five is an example Of a stereotypical Indies girl. Indies Girls normally have wavy or volumes hair and usually wear either skinny jeans or black skirt/shorts and boots.Picture six shows Indies Boys who tend to be skinny with messy hair and a fringe and usually wear skinny jeans and a shirt. (Both photograph five and photograph six are in The Sugarplum). The Sugarplum is Stoke-on-Treats nationally acclaimed live music venue as well as a nightclub on a Friday and Saturday night. The Sugarplum has hosted hundreds of bands such as Coldly, Daft Punk and Stereophonic as well as actively promoting the local band scene. Picture seven is a local band called From Within before their gig at The Sugarplum.A smaller subculture which is quickly expanding and becoming more well now that teenagers are part of in Stoke-On-Trend is LIGHT (Lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transsexuals). LIGHT has become a subculture for teenagers over the last 5 years as more schools and colleges are promoting the exceptions of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transsexuals. Also LIGHT Staffordshire, a local charity set up to support people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transsexual in Stoke-On-Trend and Staffordshire organize a variety of community groups in which an LIGHT subculture was born.Picture nine is the proud home of the best gay club outside of Birmingham, The Factory. This is where older teens from the LIGHT subculture can be found and feel at home in. Picture ten shows one of Stoke-On-Treats biggest LIGHT contributions to the local society. Whether people support LIGHT or just value diversity in the city and wish to celebrate equality, anyone is welcome to get involved and begin to learn more and understand LIGHT. Photograph eleven shows the last teenage subculture in which is popular in Stoke-on-Trend.The subculture which has become widely popular in the Hanley area is Skaters. Stoke-On-Trend has one of the first facilities in the Uk o have a street style skate park known as The plaza. It is currently the biggest in Europe, and proudly offers street style skating combining elements that skaters would be looking for, including many features seen in urban landscape, for example, steps and handrails. This allows teens to enjoy parts of urban city life at their doorsteps rather than having to leave Stoke-on-Trend and go elsewhere.It embeds values of urban culture to the countryside. Photograph eleven highlights the bonus to this skate part being free and open at all times, as it allows skaters to hang UT together whether it be that they skate themselves or just watch others. The Plaza is popular for teens skating on both blades or boards and sometimes is popular for bikes which is evident in photograph eleven. The birth of new subcultures like chaps, LIGHT and Indies are a recent event, 15-20 years ago they did not exist.The change in class elements has effected the places in which people go which father shapes their identity. For example, McCullough et al. (2006) found that as opposed to Skaters or Indies who have an element of lifestyle choice over group membership, it is difficult to become Chap as they or their parents are usually unemployed and from lower social classes, therefore McCullough et al (2006:553) concluded that identification with the subculture was so deeply embedded in class and locality that it is simply not possible to become a member if you do not have the essential qualifications.These recent changes in class elements have effected certain representations of Stoke-on-Trend. A city can be influenced by the images and stereotypes of the place, therefore the representation of Stoke-On-Trend being dominated by Chaps has become a major factor in it being labeled as he unhappiest place to live. This is because of the current economic climate and the reduction in jobs available; resulting in more people being jobless and moving in council houses living off benefits, further allowing them to be recognized as part of the Chap subculture.