Prevalence and peculiarities of perception of youth subcultures among students

Pereselkova Zinaida Yuryevna PhD in History Associate Professor, Department of Philosophy, Cultural Studies and Sociology; Orenburg State University 460018, Russia, Orenburg region, Orenburg, ave. Victory, 13 anizz@yandex.ru Other publications by this author

Introduction. Since the second half of the 20th century, the study of youth issues has been inextricably linked with the appeal to the youth subculture. Youth subcultures are unique and dynamic groups that have a significant impact on the behavior of their participants. In the student environment, subcultures are an integral part of the university experience, since this age is associated with the processes of active socialization, the search for one's own identity. Based on K. Mannheim's ideas about youth as a kind of potency, ready for any changes, the task of modern youth policy is to form not only professional skills among young people, but also a civic position, spiritual and moral values that would contribute to their maximum involvement in the system of social relations on a creative basis. As social progress progresses, cultural classification becomes more difficult, as the number of subcultures increases and there is a tendency for them to mix and intertwine. The dynamics and nature of these changes are reflected in the works of Russian researchers.

Literature review. Omelchenko E. L. showed changes in the nature of cultural reality under the influence of globalization, the transition from traditional youth subcultures to a youth style, reproduction used as a resource for commercial profit, designating this process as the "death of subculture" ^{[1, 2]}. V. P. Rimsky, O. N. Rimskaya note the uncertainty of the boundaries of modern youth subcultural formations so much, which raises the question of the correctness of applying the very concept of "subculture" to them. Referring to the works of E. L. Omelchenko, they agree that today there are "imitators" next to subcultural groups, reflecting the trends in postmodern society towards pluralism and eclecticism ^{[3, p. 76]}. M. A. Zharkova, critically comprehending the foundations of the post-subcultural theory outlined in the works of Western scientists S. Redhead and D. Magglotan ^{[4, 5]} pays special attention to the concept of subcultures, on the basis of which he outlines his own typology of modern youth subcultures, including subcultures of the past (which do not meet the criteria of postmodern society), subcultures that do not meet the criteria of subcultures and subcultures themselves, characterized by a superficial immersion into the "other world" to enjoy collective unity in this space, a sense of freedom, feelings of self-expression ^[6]. Based on this typology, Pavlova A. Y. wonders if there is a kind of "subcultural hero" in modern post-subcultures, who can be represented as their creator or inspirer. If for traditional subcultures the "heroes" were a legendary hero or a guide hero, then for a subculture, due to its temporary nature, which does not affect the lifestyle of its participants, the hero is a symbol that may be impersonal or the hero may be completely absent, since each member of the subculture is a hero for himself ^{[7, p. 114]}.

The problem of transformation of subcultures of the digital society is raised in the work of Andreev E.A., Tuzovsky I.D., using the example of subculture, the process of integration of small subcultural groups into complex supersubcultures is shown. Today, the authors distinguish two supersubcultures – geek culture and glam culture, and conditionally speak of the existence of a zero culture, based on differences in the motivation of the nature of their activities, the essence of socio-cultural action and attitudes towards markers of social success ^[8]. Innovative behavioral practice of modern animalistic subcultural movements (furries, quadrobers, therianthropes, hobbyhorsers) It has received a wide public response in Russia, with characteristic contradictory assessments ranging from initiatives to recognize such movements as extremist, to interpreting them as harmless hobbies and sports. Attempts are being made to comprehend new practices in scientific research ^{[9, 10, 11, 12]}. Thus, understanding the transformation of subculture in the modern era of postmodernity in order to determine the vector of cultural policy of the state in conditions of uncertainty of social reality requires the expansion of research, including on the basis of empirical material.

Materials and methods of research. The study was conducted between March and May 2024 among students of Orenburg State University (hereinafter OSU). At the preparatory stage, the pilot survey method was used, which was attended by 150 people. The survey was conducted in the form of a questionnaire in Google Forms using the Internet. The sample was formed by the "snowball" method among students of all courses and forms of study. The questionnaire included 16 questions. It included closed questions, semi-open and open questions. The age range of the respondents is from 17 to 27 years old, where the most numerous age group were those aged 21 (37% of all respondents). The share of respondents studying in social and humanitarian specialties, such as sociology, psychology, journalism, philology, law, history, management, was 67%, the share of students studying in technical specialties (mathematics, physics, architecture, software engineering) - 33%.

Subsequently, in order to obtain more detailed judgments reflecting the specifics of student perception of modern subcultural trends and practices, a qualitative stage of the survey was conducted using the focus group method. Group discussions were held in six student groups, selected by the method of nest sampling, among the students of Orenburg State University of Social, Humanitarian and technical fields of study. The total number of respondents who took part in the focus groups was 64 people, of whom 58% were girls and 42% were boys aged 17-23, respectively. The focus groups were held in a semi-formal setting. The participants were asked open-ended questions about their experiences of interacting with and relating to youth subcultures.

The main results. An analysis of the research results showed that the absolute majority of the students surveyed are familiar with the concept of "subculture" and can describe it quite correctly. According to the questionnaire, 74% of respondents are well aware of the meaning of the term "subculture" and during the group discussions, almost all participants expressed a clear understanding of what can be called a subculture. Most of the participants described subculture as "a special cultural sphere that includes a group of people united by common interests and hobbies." Among the external characteristic features of representatives of subcultures, respondents named similarities in clothing style, appearance, slang and attributes. Also, according to the survey participants, common hobbies, interests, musical tastes, behavior, psychological characteristics, worldview and a special type of thinking about anything can indicate belonging to a subculture.

The most common subcultures among students today, according to respondents, are animeshniks (fans of Japanese animation), gamers (fans of computer games), K-pop fans, offline (near-football fans), cosplayers (fans of impersonating popular characters) (see: Fig.1).

Figure 1. List of subcultures most common among students (in % of all responses given)

During a group survey, OSU students indicated that they most often met gamers in the university space (they note that there is a gaming club), animeshnikov and k-pop fans. When asked by the moderator to explain why these subcultures are currently the most relevant among students, opinions were expressed about the spread and strong influence of the Internet and the media on modern cultures, as well as the "fashionable trends" dictated by them. One of the participants gave an example of how another subculture of gamers originated – fans of the game "World of Warcraft", which unites more than 10 million players in the world. Representatives of youth subcultures, such as anime and k-pop fans, gamers, skinheads, bikers, and hunters, were also identified among the participants of the focus groups. However, their share among all those who participated in the group discussions was 6.4% or 10 people. According to the survey, the proportion of respondents who identified themselves as belonging to one or another subcultural community was 15%, 85% of respondents do not identify themselves as belonging to any subculture.

Respondents indicated that they most often meet representatives of various subcultures on the street, in parks, shopping malls – 75%, on social networks – 67%, specialty stores and cafes – 30%. They are least likely to meet at university (28%), at thematic events (27%), among their friends and acquaintances (21%) and 11% have not met in real life, but have only read about them in books or seen representatives of various subcultures in films. There were suggestions that "maybe one of my classmates belongs to some subculture, but I don't know about it, it's not written on them." Obviously, in the space of a formal educational organization today, it is not customary to demonstrate belonging to a particular subculture, perhaps because of fear of prejudice. External manifestations of subcultural identity are being transferred to their "own" environment, to themed parties, festivals, and urban public spaces. In adolescence, subculture is viewed primarily as an opportunity to spend free time as a form of leisure, there is no desire for self-affirmation through the demonstration of belonging.

The participants of the focus group discussions mainly attributed the reasons for youth joining subcultural groups to the search for like-minded people and the possibility of self-realization and recognition. Egor, 21 years old: "In my opinion, people go to subcultures in order not to feel lonely, to be able to discuss their interests with those who share them, and to share something interesting themselves." Anna, 20 years old: "It seems to me that first of all they are driven by the desire not to feel lonely, to find support, friends, and, well, the desire to stand out, express their worldview." Quite often, there were answers that "those who have problems with the mainstream society go to subcultures." Evelina, 19 years old: "In adolescence, parents don't understand their children, so they look for people who share their views and interests. They may often encounter rejection and even harassment among their peers. As a result, they want to find a response to their thoughts and actions from other people, to understand that you are not the only one." The participants in the discussions noted the isolation of representatives of subcultures, the desire to stand out, isolate themselves, and isolation. The survey data indicate a search for personal identity as the most common reason for joining subcultural groups (see Fig. 2).

The representatives of subcultures themselves, identified during the focus group discussions, answered the moderator's question about how they became part of this subculture, saying that due to "the influence of their parents (my father was fond of computer games and got hooked)," "it was just interesting to learn new things," "fascination and interest since childhood (paganism, football, anime, music)".

Figure 2. Distribution of responses to the question "Reasons for joining subcultural groups?" (in % of all responses received)

The questionnaire asked questions about the advantages and disadvantages of belonging to a particular subcultural group. Among the positive aspects of participation, respondents highlighted, first of all, the possibility of finding like-minded people and creating a social circle (85% of responses), which correlates with answers about the reasons for youth joining subcultural groups. The advantages also included the development of creative potential and self–expression - 55%; support and solidarity within the subcultural community – 49%; acquisition of new skills and knowledge in the chosen field of interests – 31% and the possibility of holding joint events and celebrations – 29%. These answers of the respondents indicate that the youth subculture seems to them to be an integral part of the life of modern society, performing such functions as compensatory, socializing, adaptive, integration.

The respondents associated the negative aspects of participation in youth subcultural groups with forced association with certain norms and stereotypes that do not always correspond to reality – 69%; with negative perceptions from other students and society as a whole – 61%; with the risk of alienation and restriction in the choice of communication – 52%. Similar answers were given to the question of why people often react negatively to representatives of various youth subcultures: negative stereotypes or prejudice against this subculture – 66%, and ignorance or misunderstanding of the values and norms of this subculture – 45%.

Focus group participants also expressed concerns about the potential negative consequences of participating in youth subcultures, including:

• Isolation (participation in a subculture can lead to division between members of the group and people who do not belong to it)
• Stereotyping (subcultures are often associated with stereotypes, which can lead to bias and discrimination against their participants)
• Conflict (differences between subcultures can lead to conflicts and tensions in the system of social relations).

When asked about the attitude of students towards representatives of various subcultures, the majority of respondents answered that they were neutral (76%), positive (17%) and 7% negatively. In order to clarify the boundaries and conditions of a neutral attitude towards the participants of subcultural groups, relevant questions were asked during the group discussions. Respondents generally expressed the opinion that if subcultures are not destructive, then they treat them without negativity (positively, normally, neutrally), and some even with interest. The following opinions were expressed separately: "Let them exist, but they don't touch me", "If representatives of a subculture violate my boundaries, then I treat them badly". Some respondents expressed the opinion that they do not like subcultures, the participants of which are very different from others in their appearance and behavior (informal, abushki, gopnik). According to the respondents, the destructive nature of the subculture is manifested in the propaganda of violence, hostility, discrimination against anyone, and participation in mass conflicts. Skinheads, Gopnik, offnik, and Redan were most often referred to as such examples.

At the same time, the majority of respondents noted that attitudes towards representatives of subcultures in modern Russian society have changed dramatically, "people have begun to pay less attention to them, more soberly and adequately respond to them." This is attributed to the general increase in tolerance among Russians, as well as to changes in the goals of modern subcultures – "previously they were aimed at changing the current order, but now they are not." It was also noted that "now subcultures have become more positive, where it has become easy to join, and, consequently, they do not have a special opposition to society and isolation."

Focus group participants noted that attitudes towards youth subcultures can change with age and life experience. One of the respondents expressed the opinion that older people continue to have a negative attitude towards subcultures: "The cult of tolerance does not apply to them." According to the interviewee, young people have a more tolerant attitude towards those who are not like others or have other interests, since they have already been brought up in the spirit of multiculturalism and respect for other people's borders. Most of the participants in this focus group agreed with this position, and it is worth noting that a similar opinion was voiced in other audiences.

Participants of subcultural groups were interviewed separately for the manifestation of hostility towards them from others. Participants belonging to the subcultures of animeshnikov and K-popers faced negative reactions to their hobbies at school, but noted that it was not a manifestation of hatred, but more like a joke or an "unsolicited opinion" that they did not pay attention to. At the university, none of the participants in the discussion came across hostility personally, but they indicated that they often receive negative comments on social networks. A representative of the skinhead subculture said that she experienced direct hostility from representatives of other subcultures who are in confrontation with her movement. A respondent who was a member of the biker subculture in the past said that she also felt hostility from members of other subcultures and within a subculture divided along territorial lines ("... you see, Orsk bikers and Orenburg bikers are not friends with each other").

Considering the existing stereotypical judgments about youth subcultures in the modern student environment, the majority of the survey participants noted an overly pretentious, extravagant, non-standard appearance (70% of respondents), the use of specific slang and slang (38%) and the desire to reject generally accepted social norms and rules (32%). Thus, in public perceptions, belonging to a subculture is determined by appearance and mannerisms. In focus group discussions, respondents immediately recalled the subculture of animeshnikami, describing them as "strange people, not of this world," "they have strangely dyed hair," "they like to dress up as their favorite characters, "mow" their characters even in everyday life." A representative of skinheads in one of the focus groups shared her experience of encountering existing stereotypes, such as the association of skinheads with endless fights, anger and aggression. Despite the fact that, according to the respondent, both she and her friends are kind people who play sports, try to promote Russian culture and a healthy lifestyle, as well as deny the use of drugs, alcohol and tobacco. The participants in this discussion linked negative stereotyping to the lack of awareness among the population about the goals and worldview of certain subcultural communities, as well as negative media coverage of the activities of these communities. "In commercials, in TV shows, we see how gamers are shown, they are either introverted teenagers with unwashed hair, or forty-year-old men who come from the factory and play dancing. Of course, this will not arouse sympathy for this subculture," said one of the respondents.

During the survey, respondents noted such changes in modern subcultures in Russia as the emergence of new subcultures associated with the Internet and social networks, an increase in the number of young people mixing elements of different subcultures and creating their own unique style, blurring the boundaries between different subcultures and the emergence of hybrid styles, combining elements from different subcultures, increasing the influence of youth subcultures. the impact on popular culture and fashion, the growing attention to environmental and social issues, which affects the formation of new youth subcultures associated with eco-activism and lifestyle.

A separate question was also raised about the need for state control over youth subcultures. The majority of respondents spoke about the need for state control over the content of destructive content (calling for violence, inciting ethnic hatred and hostility) on the Internet, published in social groups of various subcultural trends. In general, the majority of students surveyed consider subcultures only as a temporary hobby for young people, whose participation will decrease as they get older.

Conclusions. Despite clear ideas about the concept of subculture, knowledge of their most common types, features of expression, and reasons for joining, most students do not identify themselves as members of a particular subculture. The majority of respondents note an increase in tolerance towards members of subcultures, but also highlight the persistent negative stereotypes in the public perception of Russians, especially in older age groups, attributing them to a lack of information about the goals and worldviews of various subcultural groups, as well as negative media coverage. In the minds of students, subcultures help young people acquire the necessary skills to integrate into society. In personal development, youth subcultures help to find themselves, their lifestyle and worldview provide an opportunity for self-expression, gaining a circle of friends, which is also the main motive for joining youth subcultures. The youth subculture is perceived as an integral part of modern society, performing necessary social functions. Young people express negative attitudes towards subcultures that promote violence and discrimination, while others are described as neutral and uninteresting. Assessing the existing modern subcultural trends in general, students note a tendency towards mixing, mixing subcultural practices, blurring the boundaries of belonging to a particular subculture and transferring the main interaction between their participants to a virtual environment, which corresponds to the model of the post-subculture of modern society described by the researchers.