Essay on Skinheads - 3158 Words

When thinking about skinhead gangs in London, it is impossible not to conjure up images of shaved heads and heavy Doc Martin boots accompanying a particularly racist kind of violence with no respect for authority structures of the state. However, did these gangs begin with such a clear idea of their purpose? Were they aware that their daily activities would become a â€Å"subculture† along with the Mods and Rockers? In his essay titled â€Å"The Skinheads and the Magical Recovery of Community,† John Clarke argues that skinheadism is about the recovery of a community in working class neighborhoods where this feeling had been lost due to various changes in socio-economic conditions. He says that their feeling of exclusion â€Å"produced a return to an†¦show more content†¦Eventually this look of short hair, collared shirt, upturned pants, and heavy boots became a uniform that helped unite the gang, and gave it an identity that was visible to others. â€Å"The conformity of the uniform was a demonstration of the uniformity of language, areas of discussion, interests, attitudes and actions† (Paint House, 116). This uniformity of style is also important in A Clockwork Orange, as clothes are always meticulously described, and often quite similar to the style dictated by the Collinwood gang (Burgess, 2). For these groups, clothes become the symbol of a community that they want to re-create in order to combat the changes that were happening within their neighborhood. Before this, the local community was enough to give these youths a sense of belonging. However, the introduction of immigrants and the building of large apartment blocks which displaced neighborhood associations and attracted more middle-class inhabitants were threatening to this formerly one-class East End neighborhood. â€Å"You don’t get no fucking toffs ‘round ‘ere,† they would say (Paint House, 19). However, with this change came the need to define the boundary between the original, â€Å"true† members of theShow MoreRelatedThe Cultural Movement of the Skinheads669 Words   |  3 PagesOne of the biggest cultural movements to arise from Reggae was the Skinheads. Skinhead culture grew from the fusion between the modernists or ‘Mods’ and Jamaican rude boys. Mod cultu re was a youth movement in British cities that originated in the late 1950s, that represented a certain fashion, music tastes and scooter riding. The peak of the Mod culture matched up with the time when the majority of Caribbean immigrants arrived in the UK, in the mid 60’s. Due to a large amount of Mods being of working-classRead MoreSkinhead Subculture Essay737 Words   |  3 PagesThe skinhead subculture is a rather different, almost unbelievable subculture that had a prominent following in America and several Western European countries. Skinheads have existed continuously since the 1960’s. Although it is much more difficult for someone to get away with such violent actions and discriminating opinions in today’s society, skinheads were a powerful group because of the vast number of followers all over the country and their scare tactics towards minorities, similar to that ofRead MoreReasons Why Kids join Neo-Nazi Gangs Essay482 Words   |  2 Pagestrouble at home. If you interview a child from a skinhead gang they came from a family with one or more of the following factors: divorce, separation, physical and or sexual abuse and disfunctional parents. These conditions are further compounded by joblessness, poverty, lack of education, bandage barriers, academic deficiencies and distinctive element from pop culture, such as violent themes in music, television and films. Many people believe that skinhead come from poor families only bid when kids wereRead MoreAnalysis Of The Movieshaun 1622 Words   |  7 Pagesinto a skinhead made this possible. Shane Meadows goes in further details in explaining Shaun decision to join the skinhead movement: â€Å"It was the skinhead movement that enamored me the most. I remember seeing 10 or 15 of them at the bus shelter on my way home from school one summer night and thinking they were the most fearsome thing I had ever seen. Even though I was terrified of them, I was instantly attracted to them.à ¢â‚¬  (Meadows, 2007) Shaun expressed his feeling of fearsome that the skinhead movementRead MoreThe Memoir Of A Recovering Skinhead895 Words   |  4 PagesIn the Autobiography of a Recovering Skinhead, Frank met multiple people who changed his life. For instance, his family had an impact on his life. His father had not been there for him as he grew up, while his mother changed his last name to hers so Frank would not know he was Irish. John’s introduction into Frank’s life was what had truly ignited Frank’s anger. John was his mother’s new boyfriend, who eventually married his mother and raised two children with her. He also beat Frank as a child andRead MoreThe History of Mods Skinheads5695 Words   |  23 Pagesoriginally American, as it was best popularized by James Dean wearing a red one in the famous Rebel Without A Cause slouch/pose. The tradition continues today, as this jacket is still generically known in many circles as the emblem for bot h Mod and Skinhead. For a good understanding of what Mods liked about French fashion of the time, watch the 1964 film, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. Aside from the fact that this movie is visually stunning, the clothes, and specifically how they were worn becameRead MoreEssay Rhetorical Visions in the Film, American History X3044 Words   |  13 Pagessuch as skinheads and Neo-Nazis. The vision of this movie is to make others aware of the complex life of a skinhead. Through different symbolism we see how society views this group. We also are made aware of the continuous cycle of violence that continues to exist even after a powerful leader changes his view. American History X is important to analyze because it shows how one man’s rhetorical vision changes through life experiences. This film depicts the lifestyles of skinheads and how oneRead MoreThe Distorted Stereotype of Skin Heads953 Words   |  4 Pagesa bottle, belt buckle, sock full of ball bearings, blackjack, baton, switchblade, brick, or the old fashion fisticuffs. A war is being waged within the skinhead culture a war that has been waged since the 1970s. A war between traditional skinheads and racist skinheads, the most notable factions involved in the war are the S.H.A.R.P.S. or Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice commonly referred to as SHARPS. They originated in New York but have membership in a plethora of other American cities such asRead MoreTheory Assignment on American History X Essay3123 Words   |  13 Pagesabove the law without dealing with the consequences eventually. Another population at risk is the immigrant workers. Whether they are legal or otherwise, a part of society perceives them as a threat. During the Korean store debacle, some of the skinheads were saying things about the illegal status of the store employees. The store owner was told not to hire illegal workers for cheap wages. The prejudices of citizens put all immigrants in a risk category. When Derrick tells the teacher, during theRead MoreAmerican History X - Paper 21730 Words   |  7 PagesBrittany Camacho Cultural Anthropology American History X â€Å"I hate anyone that is not white Protestant,† begins Danny Vinyard, the brother of a former neo Nazi skinhead. American History X offers opinions from two sides through one character, the ex-neo Nazi Derek, and the post-prison-reformed Derek. The post-prison-formed Derek serves as a vision of hope for present time. This powerful movie not only depicts the most disturbing aspects of racism, but also shows how close racism is to the middle-class