Subcultural Theory

"By far the most thorough and thoughtfully researched introduction to the field to date ... Highly recommended." Choice "Lays important tracks in the field of youth cultural studies and contributes powerful new data to the Chicago Schools legacy of urban ethnography and deviance studies, returning symbolic interactionism to its roots without looking backward." Symbolic Interaction "In this book, Patrick Williams offers the fields of sociology, criminology, and youth cultural studies the most encyclopedic and visionary treatment of subcultural theory and youth sensibilities to date. Williams's fusion of classic theory, modern research, and contemporary popular culture trends is masterful and Subcultural Theory is an invaluable resource to professors and researchers working in the areas of youth subcultures, deviance, and social theory." Tammy Anderson, University of Delaware "Subcultural Theory is essential reading for anyone interested in subculture studies. Patrick Williams explores the central concepts of the field - style, homology, moral panics, identity, authenticity, and more - with depth, precision, and clarity. He carefully outlines the key contributions and controversies related to major schools of thought, from the Chicago School to post-subculture studies. The thoughtful discussions of hegemony and resistance will push the study of subcultures forward. This book will be one of the most important texts in this field for years to come." Ross Haenfler, The University of Mississippi "Thorough, accessible and engaging throughout, Subcultural Theory offers an invaluable guide for those new to the subject at the same time as providing a distinctive and thought-provoking critical contribution which will be of great interest to established scholars." Paul Hodkinson, University of Surrey

J. Patrick Williams is Assistant Professor of Sociology at Nanyang Technological University

Detailed Table of Contents. List of Figures and Images. Preface. Chapter 1: Subcultural theory. Chapter 2: Theoretical and methodological traditions. Chapter 3: Race and gender in subcultural experience. Chapter 4: Style. Chapter 5: Resistance: Subculture from the inside. Chapter 6: Labels and moral panics: subcultures from the outside. Chapter 7: Identity and Authenticity. Chapter 8: Scales. Chapter 9: Related fields. Chapter 10: A final note on concepts. Bibliography.