The language of youth subcultures
Subtitle: social identity in action
By: Sue Widdicombe, Robin Wooffitt.
Contributors: Wooffitt, Robin.
Publisher: Harvester Wheatsheaf
Published: 1995
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 250
Subjects: Youth -- England; Youth -- England -- Language; Subculture -- England; Group identity -- England; Identity (Psychology) in youth -- England; Language and culture -- England; Discourse analysis -- England; Conversation analysis -- England
Description: "The Language of Youth Subcultures is an empirical examination of the accounts of members of youth subcultures, such as punks, goths and rockers. Adopting a unique combination of conversation and discourse analysis, the authors focus on the ways people use language to construct selves and identities; negotiate the meanings of subcultural group membership; account for their personal involvement and authenticity; and to characterise the relationships between individuals and groups, subcultures and society." "Their analysis is set in the context of theoretical debates concerning individual - social dualism, human agency and the nature of self and the social group. The authors examine critically various conceptual resolutions to these issues from both more traditional and postmodern perspectives. The Social Identity approach, social construction and the death of the unified subject all come under critical scrutiny, as does New Subcultural Theory. Throughout, the authors point to the kinds of benefit that accrue from a pragmatic or empirical understanding of selves and Social Identities in action."--BOOK JACKET.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 231-244) and indexes.
Based on 38 interviews with 85 people conducted in Aug. 1987 and Aug. 1989 at locations chiefly in London.