Are Youth Subcultures Genuine Signs Of Revolt Or Simply The Manifestation Of Style?

Talcott Parsons argues that subcultures are youth’s way of dealing with the transition from childhood to adulthood. Most subcultures begin as a way for the youth’s to create a different style that is different to mainstream society, giving themselves their own identity and this could be classified as a rebellion against the mainstream. These subcultures are often linked to the groups musical preference and are seen to influence the way they dress and act, such as Goths and Punks. Yet Hebdige claims that ‘the styles expressed by different subcultures are a response to social conditions and experiences'. He suggests that the style of punk must be interpreted ‘in the context of the social decay of Britain during the late 1970s.’ It seems that the subcultures from the 1950s-1990s incorporated revolt and style unlike subcultures today which are not as often showing signs of revolt, rather using style to fit into the life which surrounds them, such as students.