Teddy Boys: Difference between revisions
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During the 50s and 60s there was a boom of | During the 50s and 60s there was a boom of youth [[Subculture|subcultures]] in Britain. With the American lifestyle coming to Britain there was the chance for British working-class teenagers to afford fashionable clothing and to adopt and adapt the American way of life. Among other youth subcultures, the Teddy Boys were famous for their provocative fashion and the riots they were involved in. | ||
''' | == Clothing == | ||
Like most subcultures, the Teds also caused great sensation with their alternative fashion. They used [[Edward VII|Edwardian]] fashion and applied and transformed it "to the situations and experiences characteristic of their own distinctive group-life and generational experience" (Clarke et al., 41). Consequently, the Teddy Boys adopted the style of Edwardian gentlemen in order to party and enjoy themselves. Usually the clothing consisted of a "drape jacket, [...] suede Gibson shoes with thick crepe soles, narrow 'drainpipe' trousers, a smart shirt and a loud tie - usually of the 'Slim Jim' or bootlace type" (www.rockabilly.nl/general/teddyboys.htm). | |||
== Riots == | |||
The Teddy boys were very often involved in fights with other young people who did not share their clothing and/or did not belong to the subcultural group. Fights often came up due to offences to their dress code. In 1953 there was the first murder of a Teddy Boy in South London at Clapham Common. A fight between three youths and some of the Teds arose because one of the teenagers had insulted one of the Teds (Clarke et al., 68). | The Teddy boys were very often involved in fights with other young people who did not share their clothing and/or did not belong to the subcultural group. Fights often came up due to offences to their dress code. In 1953 there was the first murder of a Teddy Boy in South London at Clapham Common. A fight between three youths and some of the Teds arose because one of the teenagers had insulted one of the Teds (Clarke et al., 68). | ||
Additionally, the Teds were present in the Notting Hill race riots in 1958 which had started | Additionally, the Teds were present in the Notting Hill race riots in 1958 which had started "with a minor domestic dispute between a black man and his white wife" (Olden, 2008) and then turned into one of the most racist violent acts in Britain. | ||
== Music == | |||
The Teds devoted themselves to Rock'n'Roll. Musicians who were popular among the youths were, for example, Bill Haley ("Rock around the Clock") or Elvis Presley. Singers like Fats Domino or Chuck Berry also were very famous at that time and were used as ideals by the Teds. | The Teds devoted themselves to Rock'n'Roll. Musicians who were popular among the youths were, for example, Bill Haley ("Rock around the Clock") or Elvis Presley. Singers like Fats Domino or Chuck Berry also were very famous at that time and were used as ideals by the Teds. | ||
Sources | == Sources == | ||
* Clarke, John et al, "Subcultures, cultures and class." ''Resistance through Rituals – Youth Subcultures in post-war Britain''. Eds. Stuart Hall and Tony Jefferson. Abingdon: Routledge 2006, 3-59. | |||
Clarke, John et al, | * Olden, Mark. "White Riot: The Week Notting Hill Exploded." ''The Independent'' 29 August 2008. 30 May 2012 <http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/white-riot-the-week-notting-hill-exploded-912105.html>. | ||
* "The Teddy Boy Movement." 30 May 2012 <http://www.rockabilly.nl/general/teddyboys.htm>. | |||
Olden, Mark. White Riot: The Week Notting Hill Exploded. 30 May 2012 <http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/white-riot-the-week-notting-hill-exploded-912105.html>. | |||
The Teddy Boy Movement. 30 May 2012 <http://www.rockabilly.nl/general/teddyboys.htm>. | |||
Latest revision as of 12:06, 23 December 2017
During the 50s and 60s there was a boom of youth subcultures in Britain. With the American lifestyle coming to Britain there was the chance for British working-class teenagers to afford fashionable clothing and to adopt and adapt the American way of life. Among other youth subcultures, the Teddy Boys were famous for their provocative fashion and the riots they were involved in.
Clothing
Like most subcultures, the Teds also caused great sensation with their alternative fashion. They used Edwardian fashion and applied and transformed it "to the situations and experiences characteristic of their own distinctive group-life and generational experience" (Clarke et al., 41). Consequently, the Teddy Boys adopted the style of Edwardian gentlemen in order to party and enjoy themselves. Usually the clothing consisted of a "drape jacket, [...] suede Gibson shoes with thick crepe soles, narrow 'drainpipe' trousers, a smart shirt and a loud tie - usually of the 'Slim Jim' or bootlace type" (www.rockabilly.nl/general/teddyboys.htm).
Riots
The Teddy boys were very often involved in fights with other young people who did not share their clothing and/or did not belong to the subcultural group. Fights often came up due to offences to their dress code. In 1953 there was the first murder of a Teddy Boy in South London at Clapham Common. A fight between three youths and some of the Teds arose because one of the teenagers had insulted one of the Teds (Clarke et al., 68).
Additionally, the Teds were present in the Notting Hill race riots in 1958 which had started "with a minor domestic dispute between a black man and his white wife" (Olden, 2008) and then turned into one of the most racist violent acts in Britain.
Music
The Teds devoted themselves to Rock'n'Roll. Musicians who were popular among the youths were, for example, Bill Haley ("Rock around the Clock") or Elvis Presley. Singers like Fats Domino or Chuck Berry also were very famous at that time and were used as ideals by the Teds.
Sources
- Clarke, John et al, "Subcultures, cultures and class." Resistance through Rituals – Youth Subcultures in post-war Britain. Eds. Stuart Hall and Tony Jefferson. Abingdon: Routledge 2006, 3-59.
- Olden, Mark. "White Riot: The Week Notting Hill Exploded." The Independent 29 August 2008. 30 May 2012 <http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/white-riot-the-week-notting-hill-exploded-912105.html>.
- "The Teddy Boy Movement." 30 May 2012 <http://www.rockabilly.nl/general/teddyboys.htm>.