Skinhead HomologiesSkinhead Homologies

The term “homology” is used to describe all the aspects The term “homology” is used to describe all the aspects of a subculture brought together to create a certain style. of a subculture brought together to create a certain style.

A subculture is homologous when various elements A subculture is homologous when various elements (language, music, fashion, hairstyle, ideology, life style) (language, music, fashion, hairstyle, ideology, life style) combine to form the identity of a group.combine to form the identity of a group.

Like any other group, the Skinheads had their own Like any other group, the Skinheads had their own homologies that contributed to the development of a homologies that contributed to the development of a rigorous structure.rigorous structure.

The Skinhead subculture is a combination between two The Skinhead subculture is a combination between two previous subcultures: the Mod and the Rude boys previous subcultures: the Mod and the Rude boys

HistoryHistory The original Skinhead movement began in the The original Skinhead movement began in the late 1960slate 1960s Around 1965 a split between the mods occurred: Around 1965 a split between the mods occurred:

the two groups created were the peacock mods the two groups created were the peacock mods (less violent and interested in fashion) and the (less violent and interested in fashion) and the hard mods ( with shorter hair and with a more hard mods ( with shorter hair and with a more working class look)working class look)

The hard mods became known as skinheadsThe hard mods became known as skinheads by 1968by 1968 The early skinheads became interested in The early skinheads became interested in

Jamaican rude boy music such as ska, reggae Jamaican rude boy music such as ska, reggae and rocksteadyand rocksteady

IdeologyIdeology The skinheads were known as violent. In the late The skinheads were known as violent. In the late

1960s they used violence to fight against South 1960s they used violence to fight against South Asian immigrants. The skinheads were Asian immigrants. The skinheads were discontent with the fact that the Paki’s occupied discontent with the fact that the Paki’s occupied the working places.the working places.

Some of the skinheads joined the political Some of the skinheads joined the political movement of the National Front. They used St. movement of the National Front. They used St. George‘s flag as a symbol for their cause.George‘s flag as a symbol for their cause.

This racial violence led to the belief that the This racial violence led to the belief that the skinheads were racist and the view that the skinheads were racist and the view that the public had for this subculture was one that public had for this subculture was one that promoted neo-Nazism. promoted neo-Nazism.

The white power and neo-Nazi skinhead The white power and neo-Nazi skinhead subculture spread to other parts of Europe, subculture spread to other parts of Europe, North America and other areas of the world. North America and other areas of the world.

Skinhead styleSkinhead style

The skinheads cut their hair short, but they were The skinheads cut their hair short, but they were not bald; the women had feathercuts (short on not bald; the women had feathercuts (short on the crown, with fringes at the front, back and the crown, with fringes at the front, back and sides)sides)

Another skinhead homology is concerned with Another skinhead homology is concerned with clothing items. The skinheads wore long-sleeve clothing items. The skinheads wore long-sleeve or short-sleeve button-up shirts, polo shirts or T-or short-sleeve button-up shirts, polo shirts or T-shirts (with images or texts related to their shirts (with images or texts related to their subculture)subculture)

They wore jeans (Levi’s, Lee, Wrangler) with They wore jeans (Levi’s, Lee, Wrangler) with rolled cuffs and usually splattered with bleachrolled cuffs and usually splattered with bleach

Jeans had their cuffs rolled in order to show off the Jeans had their cuffs rolled in order to show off the boots and the socksboots and the socks

Women also wore skirts and fishnet stockingsWomen also wore skirts and fishnet stockings The skinhead footwear consisted in army boots (Dr The skinhead footwear consisted in army boots (Dr

Martens), brogues or loafersMartens), brogues or loafers Other distinctive marks were: the braces clipped to the Other distinctive marks were: the braces clipped to the

trousers, the badges and the scarves with texts or trousers, the badges and the scarves with texts or images related to the skinhead subculture, the tattoos images related to the skinhead subculture, the tattoos and the hats (trilby hats, pork pie hats, flat caps, winter and the hats (trilby hats, pork pie hats, flat caps, winter woolen hats)woolen hats)

The last clothing items that complete the skinhead The last clothing items that complete the skinhead style were the flight jackets and the Crombie-style style were the flight jackets and the Crombie-style overcoats (in the breast pocket of an overcoat the overcoats (in the breast pocket of an overcoat the skinheads wore silk handkerchiefs)skinheads wore silk handkerchiefs)

Music Music

Initially the music that the skinheads listened to Initially the music that the skinheads listened to was influenced by the Jamaican style.was influenced by the Jamaican style.

The genres they listened to were: ska, The genres they listened to were: ska, rocksteady, soul and reggae. Subsequently the rocksteady, soul and reggae. Subsequently the connection between the two cultures led to the connection between the two cultures led to the formation of skinhead reggae performed by formation of skinhead reggae performed by Desmond Decker, Symarip or The Pioneers.Desmond Decker, Symarip or The Pioneers.

At the beginning of the 1970s the reggae genre At the beginning of the 1970s the reggae genre featured messages of black nationalism thus featured messages of black nationalism thus creating tension between the white and the blackcreating tension between the white and the black

The skinheads adopted another music style The skinheads adopted another music style called 2 Tonecalled 2 Tone

2 Tone was a fusion of ska, rocksteady, reggae, 2 Tone was a fusion of ska, rocksteady, reggae, pop and punk rock. pop and punk rock.

Also, because of the new punk subculture in the Also, because of the new punk subculture in the late 1970s many skinheads started to listen to late 1970s many skinheads started to listen to the Oi! musicthe Oi! music

LanguageLanguage The skinheads belonged to the working class so The skinheads belonged to the working class so

their level of education was not very high.their level of education was not very high. The skinheads mostly used slang when speaking The skinheads mostly used slang when speaking

and they used to swear very much.and they used to swear very much.

The way they spoke was rude and harsh. They also The way they spoke was rude and harsh. They also used codes or acronyms. For example, “skin” is used codes or acronyms. For example, “skin” is skinhead for short, AN is “aryan nation”, FTW is skinhead for short, AN is “aryan nation”, FTW is “forever truly white”.“forever truly white”.

In conclusion, the homologies presented above In conclusion, the homologies presented above contribute all together to create the skinhead identitycontribute all together to create the skinhead identity

BibliographyBibliography

http://www.strhatetalk.com/Codes___Slang.htmlhttp://www.strhatetalk.com/Codes___Slang.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skinheadhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skinhead http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2005/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2005/

is_1_38/ai_n6234788/?tag=content;col1:is_1_38/ai_n6234788/?tag=content;col1:Subcultures, pop music and politics: skinheads and "Nazi rock" in Subcultures, pop music and politics: skinheads and "Nazi rock" in

England and Germany, England and Germany, Journal of Social History, Fall, 2004 by Journal of Social History, Fall, 2004 by Timothy S. Brown Timothy S. Brown

Dick Hebdige, Subculture The meaning of style, p. 137