Subculture, art and power: the cultural studies revisited

Abstract

The article is a reflection on the legacy of cultural studies, and its contributions to contemporary social sciences. It is based on a conversation between the authors, with Dick Hebdige in the center, and revolves around the trajectory of this British professor, communicologist and semiologist, an outstanding student of Stuart Hall. It also reviews the history of the Center for Contemporary Cultural Studies of the University of Birmingham (CCCS), founded by Richard Hoggart in 1964 and active until its closure in 2002, especially during the stage directed by Stuart Hall, 1969 to 1979. The CCCS was the academic laboratory where British cultural studies emerged, of great influence internationally, with figures as relevant as Paul Willis and Angela McRobbie. Dick Hebdige was one of the center's most important figures, especially for his book Subculture, published in 1979, which reconstructs the history of British post-war youth subcultures. The article revolves around three central concepts - subculture, art and power - with youth in the center of the triangle.