How people communicate through their appearance.
"From Culture to Hegemony," there is a discussion of "style"—that is, the symbolic significance of how people communicate through their appearance. This, suggests Dick Hebdige can be a "challenge to hegemony." Because of the time in which this was written, he is thinking in particular of young people who attached themselves to the "punk" movement or subculture. ("Subcultures," as the term suggests, are smaller groups within the dominant culture that are often at odds with or cut against the grain of the larger culture.) Hebdige claims that style interrupts "the process of 'normalization'" and "challenges the principle of unity and cohesion, which contradicts the myth of consensus." I'd like you to support or refute this idea with examples from contemporary culture.
For example, certain communities around the world have developed unique cultural fashions that represent their beliefs, values and history. These include everything from elaborate headdresses worn by Maasai warriors or brightly colored kanga wraps found in Kenya to saris worn by South Asian women or sumptuous quipus used by Incans of Peru to communicate complex messages through string weaving. In each case, these modes of dressing serve both practical purposes as well as providing an additional level of meaning for individuals who wish to express themselves while also standing out (or blending) depending on their personal preferences.
In addition to this type of cultural expression which has deep historical roots there is also a growing trend among young people today towards “alternative” forms of clothing such as gothic subculture with its dark colors and heavy metal music aesthetics; hipster fashion with its ironic references & vintage pieces; or streetwear style with its oversized silhouettes & bold logos . All these different looks demonstrate how individuals are using fashion as a means for self-expression but also as a way to challenge dominant ideas about what constitutes acceptable behavior/attire within mainstream/corporate culture . Moreover , fashion can act symbolic form protest against oppressive systems , creating powerful visual statements about one\'s political views social beliefs ...