Question 2: How does your media product represent particular social groups?
Sub-cultures:
Goth: Emo: Punk:
Mod:
Hipster:
Rocker:
Goths
The Goth subculture is a contemporary subculture found in many countries. It began in England during the early 1980s in the Gothic rock scene, an offshoot of the post-punk genre. The Goth subculture has survived much longer than others of the same era, and has continued to diversify. The music of the Goth subculture encompasses a number of different styles, including Gothic rock, deathrock, postpunk, darkwave, ethereal , industrial music, and neoclassical. Styles of dress within the subculture range from punk, and Victorian styles, or combinations of the above, most often with dark attire, makeup, and hair. I believe this subculture of people may be interested in my magazine as their music tastes of gothic rock and deathrock may be used in my magazine, although I dont think they would be constantly interested due to the other music tastes that would not be featured.
Emos
Emo broke into mainstream culture in the early 2000s with the platinum-selling success of Jimmy Eat World and Dashboard Confessional and the emergence of the subgenre "screamo". In recent years the term "emo" has been applied to a variety of artists, including multiplatinum acts and groups with unlike styles and sounds. In addition to music, "emo" is often used more generally to signify a particular relationship between fans and artists, and to describe related aspects of fashion, culture, and behaviour.
I do not think the emo subculture would be particularly interested in my magazine on a regular basis as their music interests are more focused on the screamo subgenre rather than rock or alternative rock, which is what my magazine focuses more on.
Punk
The punk subculture, which centres on punk rock music, includes a diverse array of ideologies, fashions and forms of expression, including visual art, dance, literature and film. The subculture is largely characterized by anti-establishment views and the promotion of individual freedom. Music tastes include garage rock, punk rock, heavy metal and reggae. Ideologies include anti-authoritarianism, a DIY ethic, nonconformity, direct action and not selling out. Fashion tastes include tattoos, piercings, Mohawk hairstyles, drainpipe jeans, boots and using everyday items such as safety pins or tape to hold together rips. Punks could possibly be interested in my magazine as it has elements of punk rock and heavy rock, but is not the main subculture my magazine is aimed at.
Mod
Mod is a British youth subculture of the early to mid-1960s and was briefly revived in later decades. Focused on music and fashion, 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, ska, and R&B); and motor scooters (usually Lambretta or Vespa) I dont think the mod subculture would be a common audience for my magazine due to the fact that is has pretty much died out and the music tastes of mods are not focused on rock music at all.
Hipster
Hipsters are broadly associated with indie and alternative music, a varied non-mainstream fashion sensibility (including vintage and charity shop bought clothes). Hipsters are typically described as affluent or middle class young Bohemians. The term in its current usage first appeared in the 1990s and became particularly prominent in the 2000s, being derived from earlier movements in the 1940s and are mostly white 18- to 34-year old people. I believe this subculture of people may be interested in my magazine as their music tastes of indie and alternative rock subgenres means they would probably be interested in the sorts of music featured in my magazine. Also, as many of my questionnaire respondents identified their favourite music genre as being alternative rock, so I therefore focused my magazine on much of this music.
Rocker
Rockers, leather boys or ton-up boys are members of a biker subculture that originated in the United Kingdom during the 1950s. It was mainly centred around British cafe racer, motorcycles and rock and roll music. The rockers' look and attitude influenced pop groups in the 1960s, such as The Beatles, as well as hard rock and punk rock bands and fans in the late 1970s. I think that the rocker subculture would be interested in my magazine as it would include rock bands: classic and new. I think this subculture of people would appreciate the more classic rock bands that would feature in my magazine and not so much the more heavy metal bands. Therefore, I think they may be a significant part of my audience.
