Continuously “Digging” to Find The Root of Chinese Youth Sub-cultures

Although receiving disproportionate amounts of attention in the western media, most of China’s growing youth subcultures are still largely marginalized. Yet, as a new generation emerges, not only aware of foreign subcultures but also with access to local variations, Chinese subcultures will continue to grow more unique and will represent more fully formed alternative youth lifestyle choices.

Mainstream consciousness

With a government backed push on creativity and a generation of young Chinese now raised on the offerings of local bands and designers or artists, we have already seen the emergence of alternative lifestyle choices.

LOHAS(乐活) or “Lifestyle of Health and Stability” emerged globally in the last ten years and in China, only in the past few years yet it has became a household term in larger cities, reffering to those wanting to live more ‘green’ lives. Whilst not a youth (sub)cultural movement specifically, it shows the rate in which certain lifestyles can be reapropriated and introduced into the Chinese mainstream consciousness.

A vanguard of artists/musicians from the past decade such as PK14 or have helped show that more traditional youth subcultural pursuits aren’t solely the domain of the foreigner. With shows like Pepsi: Battle of the Bands – alternatives in music are already seeping into mainstream culture. As these ‘alternatives’ seep into mainstream then it secures further participation of future generations who can then build on or adapt these subcultural lifestyles and ideas.

Fragmenting Subcultures

As new scenes appear with more and more participants Chinese youth will no doubt strive to one up each other and further set themselves apart in their commitment to their lifestyle choice. Groups such as Fei Zhu Liu have already begun to fragment as certain elements of the “counter cultural” style are adopted by mainstream Chinese youths. Soon it won’t be a case of mainstream or subcultural but shades of grey, ranging from those committing all aspects of their lifestyle choices to those completely unaware or uninterested.

I believe that much like their Asian peers in Japan, Chinese youth are a ‘digging’ society. Those young who are captivated by a sport, a game, a music, an art form lust to know it in it’s entirety. As the initial introduction to these interests may now come easier to the forthcoming generations of young Chinese new, interesting youth lifestyles outside of the Taiwan/HK pop culture mould are set for massive growth.