Post Class - 10/28

In class today, we had a long discussion about sub-cultures. We first defined a sub culture and we then went on to give examples and attempt to understand why and how they are formed. We discussed how once a sub-culture is picked up by the media or massed produced, it starts to loose its label as a sub-culture and begins to normalize. Some examples were, skateboard parks, graffiti walls, stores like 'Hot Topic'. All of these outlets commodify the uniqueness and artistic element of a sub-culture. This reminded me of Benjamin's 'Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction' and the discussion of authenticity and originality. How when something becomes mainstream and reproduced, it looses its aura. For many people, a sub culture is an outlet from the hegemonic narrative, but when that sub culture is controlled and sold it becomes the narrative.