The subcultural imagination: critically negotiating the co-production of ‘subcultural subjects’ through the lens of C. Wright Mills

Journal article

Blackman, Shane and Kempson, Michelle 2021. The subcultural imagination: critically negotiating the co-production of ‘subcultural subjects’ through the lens of C. Wright Mills. Sociological Research Online. 28 (1), pp. 58-72. https://doi.org/10.1177/13607804211006112

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Authors	Blackman, Shane and Kempson, Michelle
Abstract	This article interrogates the following two concepts: the ‘subcultural imagination’ and the ‘subcultural subject’. We explore debates surrounding the ways in which interactions between the researcher and participant produce knowledge, in order to further establish the critical contribution of subculture within sociology. This article draws upon the notion of critique and ideas of C. Wright Mills (1959) in order to demonstrate the potential of new forms of ‘imagination’ within subcultures research. We seek to show through ethnographic examples how researchers and participants can be engaged in co-production of fieldwork, analysis and writing within research at different levels of engagement. The article will cover four areas, all focused on placing ‘imagination’ at the centre of subcultures research: first, it critiques the postmodern post-subcultural position within youth cultural studies; second, it defines the subcultural imagination and third, it explores specific empirical examples of subcultural subjects and, finally, we shall address the potential for micro co-production.
Keywords	Sociology and political science; Subcultures; C. Wright Mills
Year	2021
Journal	Sociological Research Online
Journal citation	28 (1), pp. 58-72
Publisher	SAGE Publications
ISSN	1360-7804
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)	https://doi.org/10.1177/13607804211006112
Official URL	https://doi.org/10.1177/13607804211006112
Online	11 Jul 2021
Publication process dates
Accepted	04 Mar 2021
Deposited	15 Sep 2021
Publisher's version	13607804211006112.pdf License CC BY 4.0
Output status	Published

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