Whilst looking at subcultures which are perceived in both a positive and negative way, two examples to look at could be punks and hype-beasts.

Punks are, of course, a subculture which has existed for a while now, with bands such The Ramones being pioneers of this style back in the 1970s. (Pitchfork – Rip it to Shreds: A History of Punk and Style, see below). Hype-beasts on the other hand a relatively new subculture with the magazine HYPEBEAST being founded in 2005. (Esquire – What is a ‘hypebeast’ and where do you find them?, see below). These subcultures are, in a way, oppositional to one another and for reasons I will explain, I have different opinions on each of these groups.

To start off with, I have a negative opinion surrounding the idea of hype-beasts. The whole idea of this subculture is to wear designer clothes. According to Urban Dictionary, a hype-beast is someone who wears “clothing, shoes, and accessories for the sole purpose of impressing others” (Urban Dictionary – hype beast, see below). The reason I have a negative opinion on this subculture is because it seems to be exclusive to those that can afford to prioritise fashion, and therefore excludes those that may not be able to afford these same items. Due to the spread of this subculture currently, this could leave many people feeling inadequate and isolated. Others may see this subculture in a positive way however as some may consider this group as harmless and just a form of expression.

Punks are a subculture I see in positive way. This subculture is entirely different to hype-beasts as a key aspect is the idea of being individual and ‘hand-made’ rather than designer. (Western Connecticut State University – Punk: The Do-It-Yourself Subculture, see below) I see this as positive as it promotes individualism over brands, and therefore is seemingly more inclusive as you don’t need to be able to afford designer clothes to be involved. Others may see this subculture as negative, however, due to a past of controversy and offence such as the song C**t In A Crown by The Bizzaros which spreads anti-royal sentiment (Kerrang – THE 15 MOST OUTRAGEOUS PUNK MOMENTS TO EVER HAPPEN ON TV, see below)

Overall, I feel as the inclusivity is a key factor behind whether I have a positive or negative view on a subculture, however there are certainly other factors such as expression and controversy which may affect a person’s perception of groups.

Pitchfork – Rip it to Shreds: A History of Punk and Style – https://pitchfork.com/features/from-our-partners/9943-rip-it-to-shreds-a-history-of-punk-and-style/

Esquire – What is a ‘hypebeast’ and where do you find them? – https://www.esquireme.com/content/26947-what-is-a-hypebeast-and-where-do-we-find-them

Urban Dictionary – hype beast – https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=hype%20beast

Western Connecticut State University – Punk: The Do-It-Yourself Subculture –https://repository.wcsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1074&context=ssj

Kerrang – THE 15 MOST OUTRAGEOUS PUNK MOMENTS TO EVER HAPPEN ON TV – https://www.kerrang.com/features/the-15-most-outrageous-punk-moments-to-ever-happen-on-tv/