Subcultures Past and Present: Space, Technologies and Social Control

BSA Regional Postgraduate Day School

in association with University of York

The postgraduates at the Department of Sociology, University of York are hosting a postgraduate 1-day conference around the theme of culture and subculture. The conference will examine classical sociological analyses of subculture and the transformations in the meaning of subculture brought about by the local/global shift, the advent of transformative technologies and the implications both of these have for our understanding of (sub) culture in place and space.

Revisiting the meaning of subculture through both a spatial and technological framework would enable a range of substantive and theoretical contributions to be made, relating to marginalisation, localisation, e-urban configurations, socio-technical disciplining and so on. Such a revisitation also opens up the possibility of discussions of counter-culture, with both historical and contemporary focus.

The conference will be held on Friday 4^th June 2010 at the University of York, in conjunction with postgraduates from the School of Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Leeds and the Department of Sociological Studies at the University of Sheffield. The programme is provided here, although is subject to confirmation.

Postgraduate Day Schedule

TIMETABLE

9.30 – 10.00am:          Registration and refreshments

10.00 – 10.10am:        Welcome address, Dr Dave Beer (University of York)

10.10 – 11.10am:        Discussion panel including Professor Mike Savage (University of Manchester), Dr Paul Hodkinson (University of Surrey)

11.10 – 11.55am:        Postgraduate panel 1:  ‘Contemporary Subcultures’

Anu M. Vaittinen (Newcastle) ‘Mixed Martial Arts Subculture: The local and global space of the MMA gym shaping bodies and practices’

Geneva Murray (York) ‘In the Eye of the Beholder: The meaning of dress in the Roller Derby community’

Rosemary Hill (York) ‘Heavy Metal in the Subcultural Context’

11.55 – 1.15pm:          LUNCH

1.15 – 2.15 pm:           Keynote Interview with Sarah Thornton (Author of Club Cultures and Seven Days in the Art World)

2.15 – 3.00pm:            Postgraduate panel 2: ‘Belonging and Identity’

Alison Mackiewicz (Bath) ‘Bedroom Culture and young women’s resistance to hyperfemininity’

Ann L. Murphy (Newcastle) ‘The Dust of Afghanistan: The Landscape of War and its Impact on the Home Front; Sarah’s story’

Tonya Anderson (Sunderland) ‘Still Kissing Their Posters Goodnight: The shift from individual to communal ‘bedroom culture’ as pop idol fandom goes online’

3.00 – 3.15pm:            Refreshments

3.15 – 4.00pm:            Postgraduate panel 3: ‘Discipline and Control’

Mark Horsley (York) ‘The Emotionality of “Subculture”: Dejection, nihilism, futility and death in Anglo-America’

Alexandra Jugureanu (Brunel) ‘Lay Theories and the Cultural Contingency of Happiness’

Beverly Geesin (York St John) ‘Playing Hide and Seek with Privacy’

4.00 – 4.10pm:            Closing note, Professor Andrew Webster, University of York

4.10 – 6.00pm:            Wine reception

Call for papers DEADLINE EXTENDED

New Deadline: 29th April 2010

This BSA-sponsored Postgraduate Day School will examine classical sociological analyses of subculture, transformations in the meaning of subculture brought about by the local/global shift and the advent of transformative technologies, and the implications both of these have for our understanding of (sub)culture in place and space. Revisiting the meaning of subculture through both a spatial and technological framework would enable a range of substantive and theoretical contributions to be made, relating to marginalisation, localisation, e-urban configurations, socio-technical disciplining and so on. Such a revisitation also opens up the possibility of discussions of counter-culture, with both historical and contemporary focus.

Postgraduate students from the universities of York, Leeds and Sheffield are invited to submit abstracts related to the following broad themes:

• Contemporary subcultures

• Belonging and Identity

• Discipline and Control

Abstracts should be no more than 300 words in length, and presentations should be no longer than 10 minutes.

In addition to plenary sessions with key theorists, this conference will provide a great opportunity for current postgraduates to share their work with others.

Abstracts should be sent to Matthew Spokes: ms583@york.ac.uk

Please note new deadline for abstracts: Friday 29 April 2010

For more details, email Tamlyn Ryan: tr519@york.ac.uk or see: www.york.ac.uk/depts/soci/about/bsaconference/bsaconference.htm