Subcultures and Post-subcultures: Hipster Christianity REL-2401-002 Silke Groeneweg The study of subcultures, and the eventual movement into post-subculture theory, is a study that looks to examine and explain the various ways in which individuals interact with and challenge hegemonic understandings through group settings. When subculture studies began, subcultures were understood as embodying deviant behaviour and were therefore a as a problem that needed to be remedied. Evolving from this particular view of subcultures, approaches began to incorporate elements of class and ideology, taking into consideration the existence of subcultures as a series of challenges to hegemonic understandings. For many of those studying subcultures at this time, particularly Dick Hebdige, subcultures were seen as arising from a set of tensions that existed in youth culture as a result of class struggle. Important to Hebdige’s understanding of subculture was style and how style was utilized by subcultures such as through the use of double …show more content…
This teaching is embodied in Romans 12:2 which states “Don 't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” With this verse and other Christian teachings in mind, questions of authenticity arise. If young Christians choose to participate in the hipster lifestyle, other Christians have wondered how authentic their faith is and whether the earthly hipster lifestyle can be reconciled with a traditional, pious one. Hipster Christians can also be considered increasingly political. As McCracken (2010) argues, this particular subculture is driving the church to consider issues of social justice, service and welfare to the forefront. In conclusion, Hipster Christians offer a challenge to Christian traditions while still incorporating religious and spiritual