in media res

For the most part, I’m not personally interested in studies of subcultures or alternative factions of people within society. I tend to side with the argument that critical deconstruction primarily weakens these types of identities, de-mythologises them and leaves them mundane and phoney. I’m referring to the sort of studies by Richard Hoggart and Dick Hebdige, then right through to endless productions either indie or mainstream that approach cultural movements that are generally music-based, white, predominantly middle-class and invariably of American original.

That said, with this post I don’t want to provide a critique or a commentary as such, but just share a small collection of moments when forms of cultural movements seem to escalate beyond simple consumption or teenage self-identification. Here are a few examples of various ‘urban tribes’ in real, physical conflict; situations which seem like sci-fi films coming to life. I’m not necessarily saying that each of these scenarios is based on similar dynamics, but I do suspect that cultural sectarianism is something that will become increasingly prevalent in ever greater spheres of life, and increasingly important in the functioning of postmodern consumer capitalism.

Emo in Mexico vs. Punks, Rockers, Jocks… etc

A series of strikes and counter-strikes against one specific subculture, largely explained by Mexico’s conservation Catholicism and the emos’ “lack of ideology”.

“The trio of long-haired teenagers grasped the plaza wall to shield their bodies as hundreds of youths kicked and punched them while filming the beating on cell phone cameras. “Kill the emos,” shouted the assailants, who had organized over the Internet to launch the attack in Mexico’s central city of Queretaro. After police eventually steamed in and made arrests, the bloody victims lay sobbing on the concrete waiting for ambulances while the mob ran through the nearby streets laughing and cheering.”

Goths in Britain vs. Chavs

An ongoing battle I’m sure anyone who was in any way ‘alternative’ during their youth can relate to. Chav (or townie, Gary, charva, ned) is perhaps more related as a category to class than consumption (to impose a false distinction).

“… the gang had turned on the young couple simply because they were Goths or “moshers” and dressed differently to them.”

“So you don’t think they attacked you because of how you were dressed?
I believe what was originally said was “Let’s get the moshers!” They just needed some kind of excuse to the beat shit out of us. I think it’s more about the kind of person that attacked us. There were several attacks that summer and if you look at the kids who were responsible you could cut them all out with a cookie cutter.”

A Local Precedent

Probably the most famous of inter-subculture battles, the mods and the rockers at Brighton Beach in 1964. Remembered now in a nostalgic, “where were you..?”, sort of way, that probably masks the deep violence from the period.

Rap Gangs in Liberia and Sierra Leone

This development is both the most surreal and the most terrifying. Following the influence of American gangsta rap and a massive influx of second-hand t-shirts sent as aid, West African militias began identifying themselves as, for example, the Tupac Army or the Butt Naked Brigade, led by General Butt Naked.

“In the late 90s, Sierra Leone (considered by the UN to be the worst place to inhabit in the world) took “thug life” to a new level… The indigenous rebel army, the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), began as a loose confederation of quasi-communists looking to liberate the enormous wealth of the local diamond trade and put it back in the hands of the common people… RUF members became easily recognized. They identified themselves as the Tupac Army by only wearing Tupac shirts. They smoked Philly blunts, sported gold hoops, and were often trailed by boombox-toting lackeys (children who’d been press-ganged into service). As “California Love” played in the background, villages were sacked and looted, women were forced into slavery, and the arms of would-be foes were hacked off to prevent them from exacting revenge.”

“The civil war [in Liberia], which killed an estimated 250,000 people in this nation of 3 million, was characterized by the eating of human hearts and soccer matches played with human skulls. Drugged fighters waltzed into battle wearing women’s wigs, flowing gowns and carrying dainty purses stolen from civilians.”