A History Of Youth Subculture.

The birth of teenage culture: After World war II there was a baby boom which brought about a strong youth culture in Britain. Young people were beginning to turn away from there parents and create new cultural expressions. Among these cultural phenomenon were the 'Teddy boys' also known as the 'Teds' This young group of delinquent young men with their greased jelly rolled hair and dressed in 'Edwardian' style clothing with their long drape jackets, drainpipe trousers and creeper soled shoes. They introduced anarchy into British society and used early rock and roll as their battle call.

'Teddy girls' also known as 'Judies' would dress up in their own drape jackets, rolled-up jeans, flat shoes, tailored jackets with velvet collars , straw hats, espadrilles shoes and elegant clutch bags. They would go to the cinema in groups and attend dances and concerts with the boys, collect rock’n'roll records and magazines. Together, they essentially cultivated the first market for teenages in Britain. Despite this the media was less interested in Teddy girls since a young working class women's role was still at the time focused around the home.

1960s The mods and rockers were two conflicting British youth subcultures of the early to mid 1960s. Media coverage of mods and rockers fighting in 1964 sparked a panic about British youths and the two groups became labeled as devils.

Mod is a youth culture of the early to mid-1960s. Focused on fashion and music, the subculture has its roots in a small group of London based stylish young men in the late 1950s who were termed modernists because they listened to modern jazz. Significant elements of the mod subculture include fashion (often tailor-made suits); music (including Soul, and R&B); and motor scooters (usually Lambretta or Vespa). The original mod scene was associated with amphetamine -fuelled all-night dancing at clubs

1970s Glam rockers followers of style of rock and pop music that developed in the UK in the early 1970s, which was performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter. The flamboyant costumes and visual styles of glam performers were often camp (acting feminine) or androgynous, and have been connected with new views of gender roles.

The punk subculture which centres around punk rock music, includes a wide mixture of ideologies, fashions and forms of expression, including art, literature and film. The subculture is largely known for its anti-establishment views and the promotion of individual freedom. Notable trends include rebellion, being individual, anti-capitalism, anti-racism, and pro-animal rights.

The goth culture is most closely associated with teenage rebellion, outsider culture and a dark, alternative to punk. The genre came together in the early 1980s. Thought of as a one-fingered protest to normal straight laced kids, goths favoured eyeliner and a Neo-Victorian style clothing and make up – all in black. Goth was never about being at the cutting edge of cool, but will always live on with youth as a way to say: “I don’t conform”.

New Romantics were a pop culture movement in the UK that began as a nightclub scene around 1980 and peaked around 1982. Developing in London and Birmingham, at nightclubs such as Billy's and the Blitz, and trendy fashion shops such as Kahn and Bell, it spread to other major cities in the UK and was based around flamboyant, eccentric out-there fashion and new wave music.

What will your subculture be?

Punk

Skinheads

1970s

1980s

1960s

The Mods & Rockers

The Girls

1950s

The Teddy boys

A History Of Youth Subculture.