Street culture : 50 years of subculture style

Street Culture explores the family tree of youth movements, examining the lines that tie Beatniks to Bikers, Punks to Emos, Goths to Metal Heads. Illustrated throughout, the book presents a sumptuous visual history of youth culture, and the style, behaviour and values of the groups who have defined it. Youth Cults is an insiders eye view of modern counterculture tribes. Beginning with the Beatniks and Hippies, leading up to Scene Kids and Metalheads, Youth Cults documents an evolving tradition of alternative street culture, of dedicated followers, with unique credos as fervently felt by their disciples as those of any religious or political affiliation. While the colourful plumage of such "cults" whether Mods, Punks or Skinheads are familiar to many, few outsiders understand the rhyme and reason that hold them together. Youth Cults details the origins, ethos and aspirations of each subculture, capturing the passion that draws devotees to these colourful cabals. Each tribe has complex codes that determine not just dress and music, but impact upon choices regarding transport, drink, drugs, sexual politics, religion and careers. Youth Cults offers an incisive guide to the minds behind the outlandish hairstyles. In this "warts and all" approach, Gavin Baddeley engages with the more controversial aspects of each subject, but also the positive characteristics often overlooked by mainstream critics. Youth Cults not only explores the roots of these style tribes, putting each into historical and cultural context, but also celebrates the phenomenon as an expression of individualism that goes far beyond mere teen rebellion. Annotation An illustrated guide to over five decades of youth movements - from sharp-suited mods and acid-dropping hippies to leather-clad metalheads and straight-edge hardcore punks - Street Culture pieces together a vibrant history of countercultural rebellion. While the eye-catching attire and headline-grabbing antics of these subcultures are familiar to many, few outsiders understand the rhyme and reason that hold them together. Widely acclaimed for his work on the underbelly of contemporary culture, author Gavin Baddeley details the origins, ethos and aspirations of each group, offering valuable insight into what attracts the devotees who are willing to risk harassment and ridicule in order to stay true to themselves. Street Culture takes readers inside the minds behind the elaborate hairstyles, and looks beyond the controversy and lurid pop-culture mythology that surrounds each style tribe, celebrating this phenomenon as an expression of individualism that goes far beyond mere teen rebellion and vitally impacts upon the modern world This title explores the family tree of youth movements, examining the lines that tie Beatniks to Bikers, Punks to Emos, Goths to Metal Heads. It presents a visual history of youth culture and the style, behaviour and values of the groups who have defined it