England '83

When is something officially classified as a subculture? What really defines the difference between a culture and a subculture and how does one know where to draw the line? Since there is a substantial difference between cultures and subcultures there also remains particular ties to the "parenting" culture that take form of certain activities, values, and uses for certain material objects that may be used differently or changed in such a way to make them distinctive and either loosely or tightly bound with the parenting culture. (Clarke at al. 94)

Skinhead England, as portrayed in "This Is England" by Shane Meadows takes a dramatic look at Skinhead culture in the early 1980's England. The film follows the life of Shaun, a 12 year old school boy who is picked on at school and growing up in a single parent household without any real role-models or money. Shaun is quickly accepted into the Skinhead world upon his encounter with Woody and his small gang of friends where he finds acceptance, fun, and a mentor whom he'd been missing his whole life since his father's death at war. It is learned in the movie that original skinhead culture had emerged out of the reggae music scene in the early 1970's and quickly accustomed itself to many rag-tag groups of displaced and misguided youth.

Some groups had taken to the extremes by adopting the skinhead image to be used in a more racist connotation with a darker intention. The more notorious nationalist skinheads were a subculture of the skinhead culture which was the subculture of hegemonic urban English culture of the 1980's. Hall's findings in the fact that subcultures co-exist and exist within the dominating culture they originated from can be applied to Meadow's film by taking a look at the rough separation of the group when the introduction of Combo arrives. Since Combo had shared a more nationalistic demeanour, Woody, a more warm-hearted and level-headed character of the same subculture of skinheads, decided to leave with half of the group who decided that they did not agree with the nationalist agenda, while young Shaun chose to stay behind.

 This is a perfect example of the established differences between the subcultures of skinheads. It is most likely that from a hegemonic perspective the skin heads are viewed as racists because of the many stereotypical views against them. Hall and company suggests that the values supported by a subculture have the potential to be rejected or frowned upon by the dominating culture, leading to a struggle of "repertoire and responses - ways of coping as well as resisting." (Clarke et al. 96) This view is portrayed in the film as the nationalists waged their "war" on the immigrants of England which consisted of minor illicit activity counter productive to their actual goal of being achieved.

Hall, Clark, and company also argued that subculture did not only involve a mentality and a way of living, but also physically "earned" or "won" social spaces through means of being part of a sub cultural construct. For example, in This Is England we found that Shaun, after joining the group of skinheads found himself socializing with individuals of his sub cultural group under the bridge, in the restaurant, Combo's apartment, the abandoned houses, etc. All of these spaces represent the physical space won over by Shaun as a result of joining the skinheads.

As we can see, the Hall's shared theory is can be seen prevalent in many subcultures from then and now. It can be applied to any basis of conflict within groups sharing the same broad identity and it is what is exploited as the strongest value is fought to be heard and submitted to. This Is England tells the sad story of a young boy caught up in a game he didn't belong to. It takes an in-depth look at the skinhead subculture and viewed it's two opposing sides and elaborates on the social, political, and influential effects of sub-groups within subculture. Based on what is evident here and in everyday life, we can generate a better understanding at sub cultural groups and make distinctions between them.