If you order your cheap custom essays from our custom writing service you will receive a perfectly written assignment on Subcultures: The Backpacker Neo-Tribe. What we need from you is to provide us with your detailed paper instructions for our experienced writers to follow all of your specific writing requirements. Specify your order details, state the exact number of pages required and our custom writing professionals will deliver the best quality Subcultures: The Backpacker Neo-Tribe paper right on time.
Our staff of freelance writers includes over 120 experts proficient in Subcultures: The Backpacker Neo-Tribe, therefore you can rest assured that your assignment will be handled by only top rated specialists. Order your Subcultures: The Backpacker Neo-Tribe paper at affordable prices
The following research essay is an analysis on the sub-cultural formation of the neo-tribe.In effectively studying neo-tribes, I will endeavour to identify some of their key characteristics and work to highlight the dominant ideals pertained by these modern-day clans.To fully conceptualise the notion of neo-tribes I will use the example of the 'backpacker' and identify how they are a neo-tribalistic formation while also drawing on specific examples from backpacker culture to theorise the notion of neo-tribes.Following the analysis on ideology of the neo-tribe, I will focus on how style and space operate in further defining the backpacker tribe from 'mainstream' culture, and engage in how cultural capital is gained within the group.Also, in further integrating the concept of subculture and the neo-tribe into everyday life I will use specific examples of the ways in which backpackers experience the travel hub, Bangkok, Thailand, as well as Australian backpacker's activities at the Spanish cultural festival, the 'Running of the Bulls.'
As a subcultural formation, the neo-tribe exists in opposing dominant ideologies represented in mainstream culture.In defying subordination by hegemonous groups, sub-cultures seek to challenge these values through identifying their own opposing ideology, style and living practices.Conceptualised by Gramsci, hegemony refers "to the way in which dominant groups within society through a process of moral and intellectual leadership, gain a form of consent from subordinate groups." Subcultures, in particular neo-tribes, act as a resistant body to hegemonous ideals, providing means in which subordinate groups can resist interpellation into dominant ideology.Polhemus simply defines 'tribes' as deviant subcultural groups, "serving to distinguish 'us' from 'them.'" However, the neo-tribe beholds some kind of difference from merely an opposition to mainstream culture, but refers to an "empathetic 'sociality', which is expressed by a succession of ambiences, feelings and emotions."As Maffesoli highlights, resistance is also structured by the neo-tribe through a shared ethical ideal or understanding amongst its members, drawing on "the German Romantic idea of Stimmung (atmosphere)" .The backpacker reflects this notion of a shared, unifying ideology, rather than ideology hailing its audience to interpellate.This shared ideal refers to the backpacker's quest to see as much of the world as possible, for as long as possible while spending as little as possible.This is the binding ethos of the backpacker tribe, which further defines its members as part of a subculture through its resistance to capitalist ideology.They do not conform to hegemonic, capitalist ideals because the backpacker is not a true consumer - they do not work, spend any money, and especially do not seek out material goods in further renewing their identity.While this statement may seem paradoxical in nature, as neo-tribes, including backpackers, make use of commodities to encode meanings regarding style and taste, for the period of time at which the backpacker is removed from their 'normal' life they subvert the notion of the evolving consumer that must seek out new and original commodities in following fashion.However, I will not explicate this idea too much this early, as I will examine the intricacies of the function of style and taste later on in the essay.
Connected to the notion of a shared ideal is the shared social experience, and furthermore the sharing of the same territory.In illustrating the perception of the collective subject, "it may be said that the aesthetics of sentiment are in no way characterised by an individual or 'interior' experience, but on the contrary, by something essentially open to others." As Maffesoli identifies, the neo-tribe is characterised by the sharing of space and territory with other members.It is important to note that not only is the territory shared in terms of real space, but also within imagined spaces such as the Internet.The new and accessible technology allows any member of the tribe to partake within this community.This is highlighted on backpacker websites such as Backpackers on the Netand Backpack Outbackthat provide access to message-boards, creating a space that is shared amongst any person wishing to invest into the backpacker community.Within these online spaces, fellow backpackers share essential information regarding cheap accommodation, good bars, and tips for easy travelling.Because "Neo-tribes are marked by their fluidity they are locally condensed and dispersed, periodically assembled and scattered"the Internet provides an stable and easily accessible platform on which members can share some kind of territory or space, even despite its intangible form.
Another essential element to the shared social experience is the ritual, and "although [it] is not goal oriented, its repetition acts to confirm the groups view of itself." The ritual provides a space where members of the neo-tribe can reaffirm a sense of solidarity and individual identity within the tribe while also further subverting themselves from the mainstream.An example of a ritual that works in such ways is at the 'Running of the Bulls' festival in Spain.At this world-famous cultural festival, a most interesting neo-tribal gathering occurs at a piazza removed from the actual festivities.It is at the Muscles Bar that Australian, New Zealand and South African backpackers come togetherto celebrate their collective identity, further supporting the belief in a unified, tribalistic community.They subvert themselves from the main festivities in forming a temporary mini-colony of Anglo-backpackers where everyone gets drunk and performs the ritual of jumping off tall statues to be caught by fellow backpackers.This rite is of symbolic poignancy, as the fellow backpackers trust each other enough to risk injury or possible death if not caught by the unknown, yet fellow members on the ground.The tribalistic nature of the ritual is highlighted in how it is subverted from the mainstream; only backpackers from the three nations know about the mini-festival and there is no invitation, but merely common knowledge on the part of the backpacker from one of the three nations.This ritual identifies how "such activities may provide a focus for collective emotions, [and] constitute real underground movements" , identifying the connection between identity and space and how tribes seek to become a collective group, where experience is shared with other anonymous members within the margins of society.
Help with essay on Subcultures: The Backpacker Neo-Tribe
Parallel to the connection between identity and space is the importance of style as a signifier of identity.Style is important to a subculture, as it acts as a "communication of a significant difference…and the parallel communication of a group identity." Therefore style is an important medium at which neo-tribes encode meanings about who they are, including who they identify with and who they seek to distance themselves from.Because membership in the neo-tribe "does not require an admission procedure, [existing] solely by virtue of individual decisions to sport the insignia of tribal allegiance"the commodity is then an important tool of communication and identity for the tribe.Before analysis on the incorporation of commodities in forming a style for the neo-tribe it is important to examine the aforementioned paradox that the backpacker challenges notions of capitalist consumption yet uses its products to signify identity.Important to this idea is the difference between fashion and style, whereby "style isn't trendy.Quite the opposite.It's inherently conservative and traditional." Henceforth, style is employed by a subculture as a symbol of resistance to capitalist, commodity consumption.This is identified in backpacker culture through the sole concern with use value.Because the backpacker, as the name would suggest, lives out of a backpack, one would have little concern with commodities of exchange.The style of the backpacker further highlights this resistance to capitalist consumption and fashion, always with simple, casual clothes, often purchased from local markets and used practically, not for fashion.The fact that the backpacker style and image attempts to engage in an anti-style, which paradoxically is a style in itself, identifies the way that subcultural style provides resistance through not conforming to dominant codes of fashion.Therefore, members of a subculture, such as the backpacker "display their own codes or at least demonstrate that codes are there to be used and abused." This explains how the backpacker incorporates styles from other cultures in highlighting the global nature of their image, which revolves around use value and practicality, thus encoding ideals of anti-fashion into their clothing.
Another symbol of the backpacker tribe's resistance to dominant ideologies regarding fashion and image is the fact that their style is relatively static and unchanging.During the time they are away from their home the backpacker does not invest in fashion, ultimately resisting the cycle of consumerism and circular fashion trends.In fact, the style of the backpacker beholds far greater symbolic meaning of their identity, ideals, and membership to the tribe if their clothing is older and farther removed from hegemonic ideals of fashion. This represents the attempt by the backpacker to subvert ideology regarding the investment in fashion; as to invest in the tide of commodity consumption would be to highlight the importance of materialism, an ethos that is rejected by the backpacker tribe and often the reason for their escape to alternative cultures.
One problem with subcultural style is that the fresh codes of signification they provide are usually incorporated and legitimised in fashion.The process of legitimation, signifying the death of subcultural style, refers to the incorporation of "original innovations which signify 'subculture' are translated into commodities and made generally available, they become frozen."An example of a traditional stylistic symbol of the backpacker is the Birkenstock sandal, a Dutch-made sandal that was originally cheap, comfortable and for backpackers, symbolised the departure from rampant materialism and adherence to fashion codes.However, in the past few years Birkenstock sandal's have become hugely popular and have been incorporated into the fashion industry, drawing on the same symbolic value held within the backpacker tribe to connote to bohemian-like ideas of worldliness.This process signifies the death of the original subcultural style, because its main function is to "transcend fashion [and] differ from mainstream fashions in order to express social distance from hegemonous groups." Thus, while commodity consumption is used to indicate style, it resists dominant ideology of fashion because it constructs its own opposing codes and symbolic functions.Once legitimation takes place, tribal style no longer expresses social distance, but is swallowed up into mainstream culture and fashion.
The style and image of the backpacker can be classified as resistant to the image of the middle-aged, wealthy tourist, who is still enveloped in familiar commodities of exchange and luxury value.The minimal style of the backpacker represents the effort to immerse themselves in a different culture, as opposed to the mainstream tourists who view the culture, however are still somewhat removed from it.This is also highlighted by the different spaces that are inhabited by the mainstream, middle-aged tourist and the neo-tribal backpacker.For example, Bangkok, Thailand, has two distinct areas for backpackers and wealthy tourists.The backpacker centre, Kao San Road, appears just as any other gritty and claustrophobic road in Bangkok, with millions of food stalls, hawkers and speeding cars.The only difference is the large proportion of Westerners and the rundown buildings lining the street are backpacker guesthouses.The shabby hostels are symbolic in themselves the backpackers concern with use value and not comfort or secondary pleasures.However, Siam Square, the main tourist centre, is actually lifted above street level, where tourists can go from their hotels into the American-centric, mega-malls without even having to experience the throng of cars, beggars or people.Even their hotels provide creature comfort such as TV, mini bar, and even advertise 'Western Style Bathrooms.'This juxtaposition represents the backpacker's attempts to subvert themselves from the tourist by living at street level, in the Backpackers Ghetto while the tourist views Thai culture from a safe, comfortable, westernised space.For the backpacker this binary opposition represents a "mental map, rich in cultural detail and value judgement, [offering] them a distinct sense of [their] place but also a sense of the others place." Henceforth, the 'mental map' describes how the backpacker's perception of the tourist is loaded with a value judgement of them as a homogenous other, a faceless mass.
The backpacker's obsession with immersion is extremely important because it provides 'authentication', meaning "the ascription of authenticity to places and experiences by labelling them as 'traditional' or 'natural.'" Therefore, constructed tourist areas lack the authenticity of realistic and natural culture of a country. Important to understanding 'authentication' and the quest for immersion is Bourdieu's work on cultural capital.Fully conceptualised in his book Distinction, Bourdieu defines cultural capital as "knowledge that is accumulated through upbringing and education which confers social status." In the context of the backpacker tribe, cultural capital is defined through experiences of the world, and knowledge of foreign countries.One who is knowledgeable on travel tips, stories and specific advice holds a great amount of cultural capital.Within the backpacker tribe, knowledge and information not only establish a miniature class system but is also used as a virtual currency, which is traded with other backpackers in further expanding knowledge, and thus gaining more cultural capital.Vital to acquiring greater cultural capital for a backpacker is seeking out the natural and authentic experience, as finding the true essence of a foreign country allows them to effectively 'collect places', a process which allows them to build a database of representations and knowledge of the world as a series of differences from home. This process can only be performed if the traveller is basing these representations on the true essence of a culture, thus the quest for authenticity further exemplifies how backpackers seek to subvert the mainstream tourist.
The fascination with the authentic, represented in attempts by the backpacker to subvert themselves from the 'mainstream' tourist, surmises the core ethos of what it means to be a backpacker, ultimately describing why areas like Nimbin, Kao San Rd in Bangkok, Thailand, and Prague in Czechoslovakia are backpacker hubs.It is because they represent an escape from capitalist consumer culture.While this ideal may no longer be true, their popularity amongst the backpacker tribe has only increased because the representation of these spaces as escaping the clutches of capitalist commodity culture is still alive and well, symbolising a retreat to authentic and real culture.
Please note that this sample paper on Subcultures: The Backpacker Neo-Tribe is for your review only. In order to eliminate any of the plagiarism issues, it is highly recommended that you do not use it for you own writing purposes. In case you experience difficulties with writing a well structured and accurately composed paper on Subcultures: The Backpacker Neo-Tribe, we are here to assist you.Your cheap research papers on Subcultures: The Backpacker Neo-Tribe will be written from scratch, so you do not have to worry about its originality.
Order your authentic assignment and you will be amazed at how easy it is to complete a quality custom paper within the shortest time possible!
