Longread 2

1. Subcultures and the
norms of society
By Adeline Winklaar, Britt Braekmans,
Yeana Choi, Elisia Cornelis, Lauren
Stevenson, and Sibrecht Moens

3. The history of
goth
First generation: Goth was born in the very late seventies
and the early eighties when bands with a darker sound than
the usual punk started to emerge. In some way you can say
punk gave birth to goth. Famous examples of these kind of
bands are 'Joy Division' and 'The Cure'.
Second generation: In the late eighties and early nineties
the second generation of goths come about. The only real
difference with the first one is that they started to identify
themselves as goth.
Third generation: After the movement became a distinct
subculture in the eighties and nineties, the goth-tree started
to branch out into a diversity of different styles and
substyles. Making it something very unlike what the original
first generation used to be. Distinct boundaries or guidelines
to be considered a goth don’t really exist anymore.

4. Goths: Are they Satanists or
something
completely different?After the results of our survey were in, it became very clear the most misconceptions and
negative views were about the worldwide subculture of the goths. But who are they really?
Where do they come from? And what does being a goth actually mean?
The biggest misconceptions about goths are that they only wear black, listen to the same
dark music and are followers of the satanic church. But most of the times that seems not to
be case. They are not simply dark clothed, depressed Satanists. Like in every group or
subculture, what every individual does or likes varies a lot, especially when it comes to their
taste in music and fashion. The only thing they all have in common is that they find inspiration
and beauty in the more darker things in life.
Music: Although black is the most associated color with the goth-scene and the clothes
mostly were in the early beginnings of the movement, goth fashion has evolved extremely
over the last decades. It quickly developed into a wide array of styles and substyles. Some
goths even wear white or pastels. The most common examples of these 'new' gothic styles
are romantic/ethereal -, white -, pastel -, steampunk -, cyber - and gothabilly goth.
Fashion: Like goths don’t all wear the same clothes, they also don’t all listen to the same
music. The genres vary from Neo-Classical music to dreampop, industrial, gothic rock to
even goth folk.
Religion: Goths can be found around the world. Therefore there are goths with different
background and ethnicities and of course beliefs. Goths maybe interested in the darker
spirits, they don't always worship them.

5. Punks: The notorious anarchists or simply
misunderstood?

6. Looking at the results of part one of the study we saw that Anarchy was the main word that people associated with the subculture of
punks. However, the survey also revealed something interesting, with 58% having a neutral view on the punk subculture, and 27%
viewing punks in a positive light. So, which is the accurate representation of the Punk subculture?
To try and answer this we need to look into a couple of things; Why Punk happened? What they stood for? and finally how they have
impacted society.
The punk movement was created as an alternative to the Hippie subculture, which was seen as too soft for some during the 60’s/70’s.
Punk fashion rejected the soft look of long hair and floating fabrics which was a staple in hippy fashion, and instead offered an edgier
look of leather, studs and brightly coloured mohawks. Not only did Punk express themselves via their fashion, but they also created
music to represent their political stances, one of the most famous examples Being the Sex Pistols god save the Queen album
cover. This is possibly why people labelled punks with the word ‘Anarchy’.
Punks*Survey issued worldwide via the internet and took by 96 participants.*

7. Punks
We spoke to a couple people on their encounters with the Punk subculture.
Interview with Derek Steel, 56
Most of society formed the media opinion that punk was
a bunch of misguided delinquents who were intent
on causing trouble. Not many saw it for its artistry, the
lyrical content or the artwork and views on life itself -
working life. No-one came from private schooling. We
were educated people who just looked and thought
outside the box, so to speak. Pioneers, one - offs.
Footage of gigs with punks spitting, fighting were lapped
up by the media. Some older people I met through
schooling & employment actually changed their mind as I
engaged in conversation with them on subjects, they
didn’t think I’d know about. I’d be
courteous, mannerable and well spoken. When I put my
points of punk music across in an elequent manner, they
listened and ingested my words. They began to
understand. They at least gave me a chance & I
embraced that.
Instagram post by PaytonRose, 29
Facebook post about a punk band donating to charity.

8. As we see from Derek's interview, society view was heavily influenced by the media. however after taking the time
to speak to him realsied he was well mannered and well spoken. This shows that the punks were being mis judged due
to media input. Another example of Punks being misunderstood with the anarchy label is when the punk bank 'The
Drop Kick Murphys' gave a $100,000 donation to help aid families in the Boston bombing. This again shows how
this subculture has been misrepresented. Finally we have Payton's story showing that punks are kind
and caring individuals.
This research shows that the punk subculture has been harshly judged by society through how the
media portrayed them. They are just normal people who use music and fashion to represent themselves and give them a
voice.
Punks

9. Hippies: “Do they really
(ab)use drugs?”

10. Hippie
What is the meaning of the term ‘hippie’? In the 60’s hippies showed the rest of America how life should be lived. They were
protesters, activists part of a small group fighting for the end of the war, but also dismantle the American system (make love,
not war).
Looking at the results of the survey about subcultures, the most common word that’s linked to ‘hippie’, is drugs.
But why is that?
Well, in the 60’s drugs (LSD and Marijuana) were not so expensive as now. Hippies experimented with drugs because they
wanted to FEEL free and forget the ‘troubles’ in the society. A scientific study showed us that people who took drugs in the
sixties felt changes in personality. People who didn’t take any drug would say that they wanted to have a nice car, or a lot of
money. But when they took a dose of LSD they would say the opposite: “it’s important for me to earn money”, it’s important
for me to have a good car”….
*Survey issued worldwide via the internet and took by 96 participants.*

11. Hippie
Interview, anonymous, 22 (Belgium)
What is the reason that you became a hippie?
Well, there is actually no reason. It is just who I am. Today the hippies are ‘dead’ for me. It is not
the same as in the sixties. I got a small community with others. This is our ‘own’ hippie
community. Also; I never cared about the social norms about clothes. I wear whatever I want (and
got dreadlocks!), but I don’t care about what others think of me. Like I’ve already said: this is me.
How would you discribe your life?
I’m free as a bird and I do whatever I want. I love my family and friends and will do anything for
them. Hippies are no difficult people. But when people ‘destroy’ the world (war, murdering,
climate problems…) you will hear from us, for example protesting for the climate. It’s a very
popular topic right now in Belgium.

12. Common Idea when people
think about DISCO
*According to our survey, most people know disco and consider it as something positive, natural.
But except music and some types of fashion, people don't know how disco subculture got popular, and how it all started.*

13. Back in the 1970s, many minorities started to shape in
America. Disco provided an escape from negative
social and economic issues. Disco clubs allowed every
ethnicity to come together and enjoy themselves
because there was no racial or sexual discrimination.
To be more confident, drugs were used a
lot, such as cocaine, amyl nitrite and Quaalude.
The use of these drugs contributed to the hedonistic
quality of the dancing. Massive quantities of drugs
ingested in discothèques
produced the next cultural phenomenon of the disco
era: rampant promiscuity and public sex. It was part of
a broader trend towards exploring
a free sexual expression in the 1970
kk

14. Conclusion
Do not just judge a book by its cover. We need to stop buying into what is spread by the media in regard to subcultures
as most of the time it is miss information, or a small thing blown out of proportion (FAKE NEWS), and realise that at the
end of the day, we are all human beings regardless of which subculture people belong too.