Drug Youth Culture in the UK & America
Drug youth culture first became popular culture amongst youths in the 1960’s. It has been suggested that there was a thirty year influx of youth consuming drugs that began in the 1960’s. This especially affected western cultures with America and Britain being severely damaged. Both Trainspotting and Basketball Diaries connote this youth sub-culture, with anti-social behavior being portrayed throughout the films connoting the detrimental effects this sub-culture had on youths. Both films connote the youths rejection of mainstream society and their identity, both in terms of class and culture. The films also emphasis the views that media especially the music and film platforms romanticize this type of youth culture, glamorizing the life style of this ’Rave culture’. (B.Osgerby 1997)
Trainspotting portrays working class youth culture found in Scotland during post Thatcher years. The film connote the unemployment, regionalism and individualism that was rife in Britain at the time and the way in which this has affected the youth of this type of society. Claire Monk suggested that trainspotting represented the “Underbelly”of British society by “recreating the experience of Britain’s youth subculture."The youths rejection of mainstream society and their identity is played out by the group of male youths throughout this film. The use of strong Sottish dialect signifies Scottish heritage, yet when the characters discuss Scotland they condemn it and its heritage. This connotes the rejection of their national heritage and geography. The dialect used in the film is a primary technique used to indicate the heritage of the film, yet there are constant condemnations of Scotland and its heritage, this therefore emphasizes the regionalism seen in Britain and the rejection of heritage (K.M.Totah 2004). The aspect of regionalism is later emphasized in the film when Renton moves to London in order to change his life. This connotes to audiences the view the public had of London, with it holding a similar ethos as that of the American dream. The use of this type of ideology also connotes one key underlying theme in trainspotting that Britain was experiencing Americanization, this is also connoted through the music and ’Vinyl Packaging'look used in the film and the title sequence adopting techniques used in many American films.
Basketball Diaries follows similar themes to that of trainspotting. The film portrays middle class youth culture found in America. Although the youths in Basketball Diaries are younger then that of he youths in Trainspotting they still go through the same experiences. The film connotes the depressed feelings that were felt throughout America in the 1960’s and 1970’s, there had been a vast drop in employment levels and in economic turnover. This affected many families in America causing great economic problems therefore leading to social distress, this greatly effected the youth of America. (B.Thompson 1995). As in trainspotting the youths in Basketball diaries reject their backgrounds and mainstream society, for example their choice to live on the streets rather than stay in school and live under their parents supervision. The film uses stereotypes and juxtaposition to connote to audiences the American ideology in comparison to the ideology of the rebellious youths. Overall Basketball Diaries portrays a negative representation of youth sub -culture in America at the time, enhancing the American putting emphasis on the social norms that are set by society. The film achieves this by connoting the problems caused by non conformist behavior, therefor acting as a deterrent. The film also connotes this through the recovery of the main character, when he becomes sober, he again fits in to society following the social norms and is portrayed as a better person, therefore advertising the advantages of accepting society rather then rejecting it.
This youth sub-culture had many influences that encouraged their rebellious behavior and their rejections of norms, One key aspect is the media. The influx of drug culture in America correlates with the re-emergence of references to drugs in popular culture, the media appears glamorization and romanticize the drug youth culture and can be said to have promoted this behavior. The glamorization of the drug youth culture can be seen in many films surrounding this youth sub-culture. Films such as trainspotting, Basketball Diaries and Requiem for a Dream all emphasis the euphoric effects of drugs and tend to either downplay or ignore the detrimental effects of the drugs and the lifestyle that they entail. This youth sub-culture was also encouraged by many musical greats who were infamous for drug addictions and drug overdoses. Other famous musicians would use drugs and their effects as an undertone in their songs and lyrics, for example ’Golden Brown'by the Stranglers or many of Lou Reed’s songs. This also greatly glamorizes the use of drugs in youths as the songs emphasis the pleasurable feelings that are created by the drug. This is connoted greatly in Trainspotting due to the soundtrack placed with the film, both Iggy Pop and Lou Reed’s music is used regularly throughout the film, enhancing the theme of drug taking in this type of youth culture, therefore reflecting what was happening in society and the time. Trainspotting itself has received critique from promoting drug use, for example Bob Dole suggested that trainspotting was a moral depravity and glorification of drug use.(C.Taylor 1996). Basketball Diaries was also greatly criticized for its promotion of drug taking and the youth sub-culture represented in the film.
Social economic situations also greatly influenced this youth sub-culture. Between 1960 and 1980 America’s economy went in to decline raising levels of unemployment and job availability declining. There was a lot of social unrest with political situations affecting the public. This had a large effect on the children of this time due to the effect on their parents, a study performed in 1970 suggested that parents were spending significantly less time with their children.(P.Leach 1973). This greatly effected the youth of this generation leaving them with little or nothing to do, therefore forcing them to find other means of support. Films that reflect this time in America such as Basketball Diaries constitute the myth of a secular religion in which communities gather for blood sacrifices. By this what is meant is that audiences watched iconic characters suffer for the way societies operate. Another social economic situation that affected the youths of this time was the class consciousness. There was a lot of tension surrounding class, this was being caused by people ignoring and avoiding class status in society, many people regarded themselves as middle class (B.Richard 2004). This is portrayed in Basketball diaries by the youths rejection of mainstream society and their class. Although coming from middle class backgrounds where their families sent them to private schools, the youths rebel against this and choose to live on the streets, to steal and rob from others in order to survive and feed their chosen lifestyles.
Britain was also experiencing similar social economic problems during the 1970’s and 1980’s, post depression years caused a rise in unemployment levels and a reduction in the amount of jobs available. Class consciousness still played a large role in Britain, as did regionalism. Bill Osgerby suggests after the Second World War there was thirty years of social and economic tension. Inflation during the 1970’s and unemployment rose, industrial relations diminished, the 1980’s saw the knock on effect of these situations, causing great distress in terms of economic stability. Working classes were greatly effected by these economic situations and this can be seen in the effect it had on the youth culture, with them turning to other means of support. The 1990’s also saw the rebirth of the “Lad”bringing back the traditional male values following there absence in the 1980’s. This is reflected by the youths in Trainspotting as they connote a generation obsessed with football, sex and music. The rise in ’Laddism'played key themes in the 1990’s and was seen through many forms of media for example Nick Hornby’s books and television programs such as Men Behaving Badly, and musicians for example bands such as Oasis. Early 1990’s caused great concern for the youth culture of Britian, they were seen to be entering a “moment of exceptional dissolution and diminished expectations”. Youths turned their backs on mainstream society and conventional norms. This is connoted in trainspotting by the youths rejection of class, national heritage and social norms.(M.Smith 2002)
Throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s there was the emergence of Brit pop, which brought with it a new influence on youths in Britain. This movement also had great effects on the emergence of the youth sub-culture connoted in Trainspotting. The Brit pop movement is greatly represented in Trainspotting by the costume of the characters. They wear the stereotypical drainpipe jeans, leather jackets which are immediately associated with this movement. The Brit pop movement was seen to trigger the rebellious side to Britain’s youths, causing the sub culture to spiral, eventually leading to the ’Rave'culture that is also portrayed in trainspotting. These years also marked, what has been suggested as the biggest social change in popular culture, the acceptance and ease at which youths consumed drugs, with various drugs hitting the high streets and clubs. (Bill Osgerby 1997). This Rave culture is greatly represented in Trainspotting for example the films music, the films rhythm and its kinetic movement all reflect the feeling of a contemporary club.
Both these film also connote the way in which Britain was being Americanized throughout the years spanning from the 1960’s to the 1990’s. This is connoted through music, the youth sub-culture that is represented and way in which the films the films have been shot. the Brit pop movement was great influence by America, it carries a certain American ethos of Rock being a musical form. This first began in America during the 1960’s and spread eastwards to Britain triggering the Brit pop movement and how that escalated over the years. This is greatly connoted in Trainspotting through the soundtrack with the use of Iggy Pop, not only was he a famous American musician but also emphasis the themes of the drug youth culture due having suffered an addiction himself. Another Americanized aspect of Trainspotting is the romanticism seen when Renton finally breaks free of the gang, this follow the lines of the American dream and this is also depicted in Basketball diaries when Jim breaks from his gang. Lesley Fiedler suggested “the world is full of imaginary Americans”and this can be seen in trainspotting through Renton breaking free of his old life and beginning a whole new one in London. The use of London in this situation emphasizes the Americanization of Britain, as in terms of the American dream London represents America. Another way in which Trainspotting follows the glamor and appeal of America is in the opening credits, the use of the youths names teamed with iconographic images of themselves follows the codes and conventions of American films such as Mean Streets. The flamboyancy of the film also reflects that of many American films for example Clock Work Orange. It has been suggested that Trainspotting “for all its scottishness the appeal, glamour and vitality of America is everywhere”.(M.Smith 2002).
Both these films connote a very negative representation of American and British youth sub-cultures. The films connote the lack of morals youths have, and how this has been caused by situations affecting their society. The films use the underlying themes of economic distress and class consciousness. They both portray the way in which youths rejected and rebelled against mainstream society, leading to their isolation. The films brilliantly connote the confusion that is experienced during the transition from teenage years to adulthood, with emphasis given to the hardship that was felt through the thirty years after the Second World War. The films also reflect the power that America had over society with both following the ethos of the American dream. Both the main characters if the films repent and accept their place in society, conforming to the norms society has set for them. Both these films construct a national identity of youth culture, mapping out the history of how and why these youths rejected society and created their own sub culture.
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