Skinheads Subculture

This is basically an attempt to impose authority over the majority by the ruling class, but what the youth are attempting is a break in the power struggle of the ruling ideas. As Hall states, “Hegemony can only be maintained so long as the dominant class successed in framing all competing definitions within their range”, but if the subcultures are working against this notion they are then able to object. This breaks the signs associated with the dominate ideologies which over time creates different discourse. This formulates a new set of codes and signs- in turn creating subcultures. Subculture by definition reads as follows, “ postwar working-class youth challenge the dominant ideology, hegemony, and social normalization through symbolic forms of resistance” . The Skinheads formed as a subculture through the distaste for the current popular culture of the Mods and the political/economic climate they were facing in 1960s Britain. From the more traditional Mods came the “ Hard Mods”. The Hard Mods were
The term “Skinhead” developed, being coined after their short hair style. These kids, similar to the Mods often grew up in poor communities and again due to the influx if immigration, found themselves housed in close proximity Jamaican immigrants. This close proximity allowed for a mixing of black culture which shaped their interest in music. This newly formed taste in music involved a heavy influence of reggae undertones. The major difference between the Skinheads and Mods weighed heavily on their key values and interests and according to Mike Brake, this consisted of these five elements for the