SYG 2000: Lecture 5. Chapter 2: Subcultures
I. Values: standards that define what is desirable/undesirable, good/bad, beautiful/ugly
A. norms: expectations or rules of behavior that develop to reflect/enforce values
B. sanctions: expression of approval/disapproval given for upholding/violating norms
C. moral holidays: when norms are loosened (e.g., Mardi Gras) permits nudity/drunk
1. safety valve: allows release of deviance—e.g. spring break in Florida/Mexico
D. moral holiday places: eg. red light districts, Party Cove (Ozarks) norms expect broke
E. folkways: norms that not strictly enforced (shrug shoulders); eg pass left on sidewalk
F Mores:norms strictly enforced since thought essential to core values/well-being group
1. example: man walk in street w/ upper ½ naked (folkway) vs lower ½ (more)
2. strictly enforced rule (more): cover genitals/buttocks in public
G. Taboo: norm so strong,even thought of violation create revulsion; unfit to live in soc
1. examples: have sex w/ parents, eat human flesh; sanctions—prison, death, banish
II. Subculture: values/behaviors of group distinguishing its members from larger culture
A. counterculture: group whose values/beliefs/behaviors are opposed to larger culture
1. example:Hell’s angels-not only freedom/speed,but dirtiness/contempt women/work
2. examples: Mormons 1800s challenge monogamy; Allan Michaels; Heaven’s Gate
III.
2. individual effort/initiative
3. people should work hard/keep busy when not at work
4. do things fast/efficiently
5. use science/technology
6. more/better gadgets are progress
7. expect material comfort/leisure
8. organized philanthropy/aid/helpfulness
9. personal freedom (underscored by Am. Revolution)
10. democracy--majority rule/represent gov/right express opinion
11. equal opportunity
12. racism/superiority over minorities
13. education—college appropriate goal/passing opportunity “wrong”
14. true American is religious/believes in Supreme Being
15. only proper basis for marriage is romantic love
IV. Why do Native Americans Like Westerns?: studied by JoEllen Shively (Chippewa)
A. noted popularity of westerns: trade paperbacks in taverns/ call each other “cowboy”
B. experiment: showed John Wayne in The Searchers to Anglos/Indians on reservation
1. controls: matched groups by education, age, income, % unemployed
2. result: all identify w/ cowboys, none w/ Indians; but in dif ways/project dif fantasy
a. Anglos: see movie as accurate portrayal old West/justification of own status
b. Indians: see embody free,natural way life;they are real cowboys; way want to live
i. their values: cowboys brave, autonomous, tough. . not tied to 8-5 job; own man
ii. Indians invest dif set meanings: land, autonomy, being free, marginal identity
iii. affirms fantasy/lifestyle:values,not ethnicity, central:cowboys=honorary Indian