A Bodybuilding Subculture Essay

Subcultures are almost like little cultures within the larger culture, although they will not be as different as an entirely different culture. Often subcultures develop when a part of the population has unique problems or common interests. Subcultures can develop around age (teenagers), beliefs (Jewish Americans), ethnic heritage (Native Americans), and occupations (police officers) as some examples. Countercultures deliberately oppose aspects within the larger culture. The hippies and political radicals during the 1960s in the United States are one example of a counterculture.

In ever culture are smaller groups known as subcultures, these consist of members that have alike interests and passions. In circumstances such as high school or a workplace it is often that subcultures will mix with conformity. This is

As defined in our text, subcultures are groups of people that have their own shared values and norms, giving them a common identity that sets them apart from . They represent specialized interests around which its members have chosen to build tiny worlds.

Your discussion resonated with me. When I was in high school, magazines like Sports Illustrated and Muscle Fitness was all the rage. Almost every boy in school enjoyed and idolized the people in those magazines because of the machismo projected in the articles. I was no exception; much like you I have always been active and frequent the gym on a regular. However after high school I joined the navy and now had a source of income. With this perception of how the male body should look, I turned to supplement to aid in the process. At one point I even turned to illegal means but backed out due to the navy’s drug testing policy. Even though at the time I far exceed any of the navy’s physical fitness standards. I still saw myself, as being below

Also, being a member of the subculture can give the individual a feeling of responsibility

Joe Weider provided that blue print. As a young body builder, Schwarzenegger was mentored by body building marketing guru Joe Weider. Weider taught Schwarzenegger valuable lessons on how to change public opinion on body building and make fitness mainstream.

Bodybuilding is the process that involves development of muscle fibers which is facilitated through special exercises, increased diet (calorie) as well as having the recommended amount of rest. I believe that in the current century bodybuilders have formed subcultures that are very unique in the sense that they have their own values, beliefs as well as traditions that are enshrined within their cultural provisions.

When discussing subcultures it’s important to establish what a subculture is to be able to correctly identify a specific subculture and differentiate it from a main culture. An example of a main culture or parent culture could be the most prominent culture of Great Britain, which would be its development from an island to a civilized prospering democratic country. The main culture that is associated with Britain that separates it from other cultures is that it is seen as a liberal democracy. The main religion associated with British culture would be Christianity, and most people would generalise British culture to be drinking tea, eating scones and having a particular “posh” accent. These small characteristics are what cultures are made of

The group is easily identifiable in larger society. The very nature of bodybuilding is to stand out from everyone else (Sinicki). That being said, bodybuilders are generally accepted in society, aside from a few strange looks and comments; unless steroids or other banned drugs are used (which increase aggression) they fit peacefully into society (Sinicki).

Subcultures are around us everywhere. It’s a group within a larger culture, who have something in common. An example of this would be in ‘Body Ritual among the Nacirema’ which is a story filled with weird perspectives and traditions. Including the charm-box of the household shrine and the medicine men that have an imposing temple, or latispo. Culture is such a strong aspect in people as it determines how a person behaves and does things, which is shown in this book. The Nacirema people are not so far off from us modern day Americans.

Another characteristic of a subculture is the language/jargon used by its members. Language can refer to the way its members walk, talk, carry themselves, the slang words used, etc. Within my gymnastics team there was a lot of language we used that set us apart from other subcultures. The technical terms used in the sport of gymnastics is one of the obvious language barriers because only those who are familiar with the sport understand the terms and their meanings. The way gymnasts carry themselves also sets them apart from others. An example of this is when I was on the track team, a coach pointed out that I ran like a gymnast. Although I was not with my teammates or talking about gymnastics, the way I ran was an indicator of the subculture I was associated with.

The specific subculture I want to use as an example is from the reading “In Our Angelhood: Rave as Counterculture and Spiritual Revolution” by Simon Reynolds. Reynolds talks about the roots of the rave culture that started in the UK underground clubs in the 1990’s. Although they still had to run and try to outsmart the police, it actually gave the rowdy teenagers who were causing trouble something to do besides causing havoc at other public events like soccer matches. (Reynolds). But what once started out at as a football alternative and unification of the working class in the UK has now changed. Instead of being a subculture, rave culture is beginning to spill into mainstream and blur the lines between popular culture and rave culture. One example I can think of is right here at the University of Oregon. Nearly every student/young adult I know in Eugene has been to some type of concert/event that would classify as a rave. I think this trend is partially due to the drug culture that surrounds raves and raving. It is no secret that many young adults in college towns use alcohol and drugs, usually at whatever party or get together that are going to that weekend. This makes raves, a place full of music, dancing, and drugs/alcohol, an appealing idea. What really pushes this into the popular culture is the commercial side of it. Instead of having secret warehouse raves, many venues and bars are promoting the idea of a live DJs or a rave type settings because that’s what brings the people in (and the people bring in the revenue). The more money that can be made off something, the more public and mainstream it goes. So while it doesn’t surprise me that raving is becoming more mainstream, it is interesting to see new contrasting opinions on raves. Another example of a changing subculture is from the reading “Elements of Vogue” by Marcos Becquer

There is something about the ideology of a subculture that sparks an interest in me. Maybe it is intriguing due to its members’ originality, courage to stand up for beliefs, or freely expressing their own self- identity. A subculture forms by individuals taking a risk, separating themselves from the mainstream, and forming their own distinctive norms, not caring what the “normal” members of the mainstream society think of them. Or do they care? Maybe that is the exact statement a subculture is making. Maybe these individuals are forming these groups so that people will care. Maybe their rebellious attitude is a final, somewhat desperate approach to getting that response. The images being portrayed in most subcultures are

Subculture refers to a minority of individuals who adhere to different rules, dress codes and lifestyle choices from mainstream culture. Throughout this essay the traditional definitions of subcultures, that mainly concentrate on class and style as their main features, will be looked at and explained. It will then be demonstrated how these ways of thinking are no longer relevant to the 21st century therefore the term 'subculture ' needs to be rethought for it to be an applicable category in the 21st century.

The term “subculture” refers to a group of people who have similarities between them, and these similarities distinguish them significantly from other social groups. The similarities do not mean religious or political affiliation. These groups have different beliefs than the main culture and are youth oriented. These subcultures have their own styles of music, ideology,