Representations of youth culture

Mods

• The word ‘Mod’ is an abbreviated from ‘Modernist’.

• It is a subculture that originated in London in the late 1950’s and peaked in the early-to-mid 1960’s.

• Elements associated with Mod’s are; fashion – tailor-made suits; pop music – African American soul, Jamaican ska, British beat music, R&B; and Italian scooters – Vespa.

Mods• The view in the 60’s was either follow your

father’s footsteps, or rebel – Mod’s are rebels!• “My school forbade long hair so we grew long

hair. Cuban heel boots were not allowed so we wore them. The Beatles and Stones were considered the antichrists so we listened to them, idolised them and emulated them. Dad was old fashioned, we were modern. Anything he liked we hated. We were mods!” – Steve Bellamy, an ex-Mod.

Skinheads

• Skinheads originated in the UK in the 1960’s, and then spread to other parts of the world.

• They were named after their close-cropped or shaven heads.

• They were greatly influenced by Jamaican ‘rude boys’ and British Mod’s.

• Although not originally concerned with politics or race, their attitudes have changed towards these topics.

Skinheads

• In the early days of the Skinheads, they chose boot lace colours based on the football team they supported. Later, the more political based Skinheads chose lace colour to indicate beliefs or affiliations.

• They wore buttoned-up shirts and polo shirts by brands such as Ben Sherman, Fred Perry, Lonsdale, etc.

• There footwear consisted of army boots, Doc Martens and ‘Bovver Boots’.

• They were known to wear Trilby hats and flat caps.

Skinheads

• They wore braces attached to their trousers which usually had an X or Y shape at the back.

• Silk handkerchiefs were worn in the breast pocket of their Crombie-style overcoat.

• Tattoo’s were very popular amongst Skinheads and in the 80’s were commonly on their faces and foreheads.

Punks• The punk subculture emerged in the United

States, the United Kingdom, and Australia in the mid-1970s. Exactly which region originated punk has long been a major controversy within the movement.

• The punk subculture is centred around listening to recordings or live concerts of a loud, aggressive genre of rock music called punk rock.

• Punk-related ideologies are mostly concerned with individual freedom.

• They were known for their tall, spiky hair which was always brightly coloured.

Punks

• Punks seek to outrage others with the highly theatrical use of clothing, hairstyles, cosmetics, tattoos, jewellery and body modification. Early punk fashion adapted everyday objects for aesthetic effect: ripped clothing was held together by safety pins or wrapped with tape; ordinary clothing was customized by embellishing it with marker or adorning it with paint; a black bin liner became a dress, shirt or skirt; safety pins and razor blades were used as jewellery.

• They wore leather jackets and both sexes wore make up.

Hippies

• The Hippie subculture began in America during the mid-60’s but rapidly spread to other countries.

• The etymology of the term ‘Hippie’ is from ‘hipster’ and was initially used to describe beatniks who had moved into New York City’s Greenwich Village and San Fransisco’s Haight-Ashbury district.

• Many hippies rejected mainstream religions in favour of a more personal spiritual experience. If they adhered to mainstream faiths, they embraced Buddhism, Hinduism and the Jesus Movement.

Hippies

• During the 60’s and 70’s, moustaches, beards and long hair became common amongst Hippies and they were known to be very colourful.

• Hippies sought to free themselves from societal restrictions, choose their own way, and find new meaning in life. One expression of hippie independence from societal norms was found in their standard of dress and grooming, which made hippies instantly recognizable to one another, and served as a visual symbol of their respect for individual rights.

• Women wore little or no make-up and often went bra-less – this gave them a sense of freedom.