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Unit Overview

The unit SOCS226 - Global Youth Cultures offers a sociological perspective on youth cultures, focusing on the development, dynamics, and social significance of young people's participation in subcultures.

Unit Rationale, Description, and Aim

This unit is designed for professionals working in fields related to sociology, requiring an understanding of the socially constructed nature of age categories like 'youth'. It explores the historical emergence of 'youth cultures' in the mid-twentieth century and considers the relationships between youth subcultures and social change.

Learning Outcomes

To successfully complete this unit, students will be able to:

• Identify different sociological approaches and perspectives relevant to the study of youth cultures in Australia and globally
• Communicate clearly and comprehensively through written and oral forms
• Demonstrate skills in sociological analysis and critical thinking through the collection and analysis of empirical data
• Apply relevant sociological theories, concepts, and evidence to the analysis of social phenomena associated with youth cultures
• Construct specific sociological arguments using relevant theories, concepts, and evidence relevant to Australian and global youth cultures

Unit Content

Topics will include:

• The historical development of youth subcultures in Australia and globally
• Subcultural theories
• Deviance and dissent
• Resistance and political activism
• Moral panics and media portrayals of young people
• Marginalised or minority young people, e.g., Indigenous, LGBTIQA+
• Race and ethnicity in youth cultures
• Gender and sexuality in youth cultures
• Cultural globalisation
• Identity, belonging, and authenticity
• Fashion, style, and ritual
• Internet, social media, and online subcultures

Assessment Strategy and Rationale

The assessment tasks for this unit have been designed to contribute to high-quality student learning by both helping students learn and measuring explicit evidence of their learning. Assessments include:

• Cultural analysis task: Students will apply a sociological perspective to a case study of a youth subculture (20%)
• Written task: Students will undertake a major written piece exploring the representation or historical development of a particular youth subculture (40%)
• Portfolio task: Students will undertake a thematic engagement with a specific youth subculture through the development of a portfolio (40%)

Learning and Teaching Strategy and Rationale

This unit employs formal ways of learning and teaching, including lectures and tutorials, as well as online materials and activities to facilitate flexible and accessible supplementary learning.

Representative Texts and References

A list of representative texts and references is provided, including books on evangelical youth culture, Australian perspectives on youth cultures, and mediated youth cultures.

Locations and Credit Points

The unit is offered in Melbourne and Strathfield, and it is worth 10 credit points.

Year

The unit information is current for the year 2026.