Hi, Elzabeth. If we're using the term in similar ways, I tend to think of deviance when I think of subcultures--although that need not be the case, of course. That in mind, when I teach subcultures, I tend to go for unusual choices. I highly recommend Trekkies, which is a wonderful documentary about fans of Star Trek. There are all sorts of wonderful examples of boundary maintenance and gatekeeping; there are great labeling issues; there's a little bit of anomie; there are even some interesting class issues as one of the characters has remodeled his bathroom in
Star Trek motifs and he wears his "uniform" while grocery shopping--with food stamps. It's wonderfully entertaining, it's accessible, and it addresses a kind of deviance that does no harm, which makes it a lot of fun.
Sid and Nancy has a pretty nice treatment of punk subculture, and The Color of Money (Paul Newman and Tom Cruise) has got a pretty nice treatment of pool hustling subculture.
Here's hoping that helps. Best, A.
Department of Sociology
Willamette University
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Fax: 503.370.6512
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From: "Jack Estes" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Elizabeth Durden" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
CC: <[email protected]>
Subject: TEACHSOC: Re: video suggestions for my Introduction to Sociology course
Date: Wed, 11 Jan 2006 11:46:39 -0500
Hi Elizabeth,I have a couple suggestions. Smoke Signals worked well with my intro class last term. It's a feature film based on a short story by Sherman Alexie and set mostly on a reservation in eastern Washington. I also would suggest People Like Us, the documentary which many have discussed and which, although not focusing on more exotic subcultures, certainly examines subcultures based on class: Black middle class, "redneck" culture, "big hair" culture, high school, etc.Jack EstesBMCC/CUNY----- Original Message -----From: Elizabeth DurdenSent: Tuesday, January 10, 2006 1:42 PMSubject: TEACHSOC: video suggestions for my Introduction to Sociology courseHi All,
For my introduction to sociology course, we do a segment on Subcultures. I like to show a video and have successfully used The Devil's Playground. However, I would like to make a change and am looking for suggestions.
Any videos/documentaries illustrating subcultures within the United States?
As usual, thanks so much.
Elizabeth
Elizabeth Durden, Ph.D.
Department of Sociology and Anthropology
Bucknell University
Lewisburg, PA 17837
(570) 577-3483
