Nature versus culture by Zoe Lawder https://padlet.com/bazoe/natureversusculture Is identity fixed or does it change according to culture, era and context? en-us 2016-07-26 23:37:12 UTC 2025-09-27 00:05:25 UTC hello@padlet.com "Clothes became more than individual adornment: a matter of deep tribal identification.(Savage, J., 2014) bazoe https://padlet.com/bazoe/natureversusculture/wish/117033370 There is a long history of fashion and appearance being used as a way of regressing from societal norms. These then became distinct sub-cultures, and were usually portrayed as being rebellious and delinquent.]]> 2016-07-27 00:16:54 UTC https://padlet.com/bazoe/natureversusculture/wish/117033370 In post-war Britain "teddy boys" took advantage of increased financial wealth to create their own unique style. Their clothes and attitude were like a badge which set them apart from main stream society. bazoe https://padlet.com/bazoe/natureversusculture/wish/117035144 (Subcultures  , 2016)]]> 2016-07-27 00:38:10 UTC https://padlet.com/bazoe/natureversusculture/wish/117035144 bazoe https://padlet.com/bazoe/natureversusculture/wish/117036662 2016-07-27 00:56:51 UTC https://padlet.com/bazoe/natureversusculture/wish/117036662 bazoe https://padlet.com/bazoe/natureversusculture/wish/117257753 2016-07-31 23:47:40 UTC https://padlet.com/bazoe/natureversusculture/wish/117257753 bazoe https://padlet.com/bazoe/natureversusculture/wish/117260747 “Furries is the name of the subculture fascinated by fictional anthropomorphic animal characters with human personalities and characteristics.” (The Feed, 2016)
      Often members of the furry culture, have been ostracised from main stream society, prior to joining the furry movement, for not meeting societal norms. Through the wearing of costumes they can develop their own “fursona”, which may have character traits or bodily characteristics, they feel are lacking in themselves. For instance, their mascot suits may make them appear more muscular, and their “fursona” may be much more confident and outgoing than they are themselves.
      Their alter-egos allow them to feel part of a community, to experience acceptance. The costumes give them freedom to be who they aspire to be.
]]> 2016-08-01 00:32:14 UTC https://padlet.com/bazoe/natureversusculture/wish/117260747 bazoe https://padlet.com/bazoe/natureversusculture/wish/117261510 'Hipsters' in London have become a target of hatred, as they are seen to stand for the gentrification of society. Despite being a distinct sub-culture they are not rallying against the system. Instead they are, in many ways, accepting and working with the system.  They appear to have embraced entrepreneurialism, and the neo-liberal values which dominate contemporary society. Their appearance and actions are symbolic of the current era.  (Feldman-Barrett, C. 2015]]> 2016-08-01 00:43:25 UTC https://padlet.com/bazoe/natureversusculture/wish/117261510 1970’s Punk "This was a rebellion of youth against what is youthful, a refusal of cosmetic beauty... Marx, Mao and swastikas cancelled each other out, difference became indifference." (Knor & Richon, 1977). bazoe https://padlet.com/bazoe/natureversusculture/wish/118217643 2016-08-14 23:24:34 UTC https://padlet.com/bazoe/natureversusculture/wish/118217643 According to Richardson and Locks (2014, p.4), “we only gain a sense of our self, a sense of identification, through interaction with culture”.                                                                                                                                  This quote reflects a constructionist view that a person’s identity changes according to context, era, and culture. As opposed to the essentialist view that one’s identity is static and inflexible. Throughout history culture has demanded conformity to particular discourses. However, some members of society feel a need to challenge regimes of normative. This act of resistance is often achieved through bodily transgression. By transgressing from the rules set by propriety, a person challenges the discipline of the normative. However, the very act of transgression demonstrates the transgressors beliefs regarding what is considered normative, and therefore displays a respect for the established norms. The transgressor subsequently becomes part of a subculture, which contains its own rules and boundaries, to which members are expected to conform. In time, the style of many subcultures is adopted by mainstream fashion, where they become normative. (Richardson & Locks, 2014, p.1-30) bazoe https://padlet.com/bazoe/natureversusculture/wish/118218442 This raises the question, is the act of transgression futile? Or does this offer an explanation as to why some members of society feel the need to go to more and more extreme lengths to modify their appearance?]]> 2016-08-14 23:41:06 UTC https://padlet.com/bazoe/natureversusculture/wish/118218442 bazoe https://padlet.com/bazoe/natureversusculture/wish/118218980 "The immediate irony of non-conformity is that it inevitably leads to conformity of another kind; adherence to a new canon. This hypocrisy underpins a lot of the criticism of hipsters, yet there is another level of hypocrisy worth noting; the mainstream is becoming increasingly hipster." (Egan, S. 2011)
So called 'Hipsters' are regularly mocked for both their individualism  as well as their conformity with current trends.]]> 2016-08-14 23:49:34 UTC https://padlet.com/bazoe/natureversusculture/wish/118218980 While context, era and culture often dictate compliance to a particular discourse, there are always those who will display resistance. Invariably this resistance will begin with the body. This may be because, according to Michel Foucault (cited in Richardson & Locks, 2014, p. 16) “the body is directly involved in a political field”. The body becomes an object of power relations, through societal demands for appropriate behaviour and iconography (Richardson & Locks, 2014, p.16) bazoe https://padlet.com/bazoe/natureversusculture/wish/118349455 2016-08-15 23:35:29 UTC https://padlet.com/bazoe/natureversusculture/wish/118349455 “Body mod is about altering the physical appearance or the structure of a particular area of your body through a number of different methods.” (Hill, 2016)                                                          Body modification is sometimes likened to elective plastic surgery, in that, people undergo procedures to alter their body to more closely resemble how they feel it should look. This aesthetic modification is often motivated by a desire to improve one’s self-esteem or to take control, or reclaim, one’s own body. For others, however, the act of body modification is one of rejection. To reject the proprietal norms which dictate the ideal, or desirable iconography. Although the motivating factors behind body modification are not dissimilar to those of the “furries”, body modification is obviously a lot more permanent. Does this therefore mean their identity becomes more fixed, and will no longer change according to context, era and culture? Is it this permanency that gives people a true sense of self and identification? Will they, however, still feel the same need to regress from mainstream society later in life? bazoe https://padlet.com/bazoe/natureversusculture/wish/118349537 http://www.outinperth.com/blood-and-bones/]]> 2016-08-15 23:36:43 UTC https://padlet.com/bazoe/natureversusculture/wish/118349537 References bazoe https://padlet.com/bazoe/natureversusculture/wish/118356525 Richardson, N. & Locks, A. (2014). Body Studies: The basics. Routledge. 1-29.
Subcultures. (2106).  http://subcultureslist.com/teddy-boys/]]> 2016-08-16 00:40:25 UTC https://padlet.com/bazoe/natureversusculture/wish/118356525 bazoe https://padlet.com/bazoe/natureversusculture/wish/118519830 Gunther Krabbenhoft, who is in his 70's, believes his clothes are an expression of his inner-self.
http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/gunther-krabbenhoft-timeless-style]]> 2016-08-17 02:37:57 UTC https://padlet.com/bazoe/natureversusculture/wish/118519830 bazoe https://padlet.com/bazoe/natureversusculture/wish/118677517 Punk style is still popular today.]]> 2016-08-18 01:03:12 UTC https://padlet.com/bazoe/natureversusculture/wish/118677517 bazoe https://padlet.com/bazoe/natureversusculture/wish/118677654 Hipster fashion is particularly popular with young men]]> 2016-08-18 01:05:35 UTC https://padlet.com/bazoe/natureversusculture/wish/118677654 bazoe https://padlet.com/bazoe/natureversusculture/wish/118677883 An example of extreme body modification. What will happen to this woman's body as she ages? Will she still feel the same way about her modifications when she's a pensioner?]]> 2016-08-18 01:08:44 UTC https://padlet.com/bazoe/natureversusculture/wish/118677883 bazoe https://padlet.com/bazoe/natureversusculture/wish/118678035 Hipsters have popularised the wearing of glasses. Whereas in the past people who wore glasses were called names such as 'specky' or 'four eyes', it definitely wasn't 'cool' to wear glasses!]]> 2016-08-18 01:11:16 UTC https://padlet.com/bazoe/natureversusculture/wish/118678035 bazoe https://padlet.com/bazoe/natureversusculture/wish/118678484 "The ten commandments of hipsterdom"
http://ramennoodlenation.blogspot.com.au/2016/03/the-10-cimmandments-of-hipsterdom-how.html]]> 2016-08-18 01:18:07 UTC https://padlet.com/bazoe/natureversusculture/wish/118678484 bazoe https://padlet.com/bazoe/natureversusculture/wish/118678922 The evolution of the hipster.
"Culture and subculture is produced through complex networks of talking, gesturing and acting, through which meanings are exchanged between members of a society. Objects such as images and media texts come into play in this network of exchange not as static entities…but as alive agents that draw us to look and to feel or speak in particular ways…”
(Sturken and Cartwright, 2001) https://gerrybsite.wordpress.com/tag/subculture/]]> 2016-08-18 01:24:25 UTC https://padlet.com/bazoe/natureversusculture/wish/118678922