Moral Panic - Irish Head Shops

The legalization of "legal" substances caused a Moral Panic in Ireland in 2010 and had to be eventually closed and banned in June of that year.

It all started in 2002 when these shops used to sell only bongs, rolling papers and tobacco. Then a loophole was found in the system and by the time the loophole was closed two years later half of the country had already tried magic mushrooms.




The big boom of the Head Shops started 2009 and in January of 2010 there was reported by the authorities one to be opened every week.
These legalized substances where sold in the shops and were advertised openly causing Moral Panic around the country.

Products purchaseable in these outlets typically include pipes, pipe screens, bongs, roach clips, vaporizers, rolling papers, rolling machines, scales or balances, blacklight-responsive posters, incense, cigarette lighters, legal drugs such as whipped-cream chargers and Salvia divinorum and products claiming to give false negative results for drug urinalysis tests; as well as items to enhance sex, such as dildos and vibrators.

The Media found an interest in these "local" businesses due to complaints from residents in those areas. Protests broke out and people where just not gonna let these so called "legal" drugs to be sold. Others argued that this its about being able to control the flow of drugs in the country and it cant be done by banning onesubstance and ignoring a range of more dangerous drugs.




In February fires started and in Dublin head shop exploded and caught fire early morning on 12th February 2010 not only burning the shop to the grounds but also causing damage to the residential area and two other businesses. A second shop burned down four days later on the 16th of the same month. Another burned down a month later in Sligo. On the morning of March 11th, 2010 there were two pipe bombs found outside two separate head shops in the town of Athlone, Gardaí bomb disposal experts closed two main streets in the town. On the morning of April 16th, 2010 in Dundalk, Co. Louth a head shop was set alight in a petrol bomb attack.



It was proven that these attacks were perpetrated by disgruntled drug dealers.

Hours after the incident in Dundalk Dermot Ahern plans for legislation for regulation of head shops got underway. From May 11th, 2010, many head shop products are now illegal in Ireland and in June of the same year where banned altogether.

Greasers Subculture

It began in the U.S street gangs and became popular amongst other types of people. These youths also know as the hoods. Although this subculture originated from the United States it spread in the United Kingdom and Australia.


Greasers came from a working class subculture originating 1950's.

The name came from the greased back hair, the mixture of products where wax, gel creams, tonics and ponade. The typical hairstyles where made into pompadour or Duck's tail.



The fashion differed from the Rockers even though it had many the same characteristics. The Greaser wardrobe included Sir Guy shirts, white or black t-shirts usually rolled up sleeves, white A t-shirt, ringer t-shirts, black/blue or khaki jackets, black or brown tech-coats, Levi denim jackets, leather jackets and baggy cotton twill work trousers.
The footwear was motorcycle boots and army boots.

References:

http://www.toptenz.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/greasers-225x300.jpg

http://rpmedia.ask.com/ts?u=/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/20/MHBgreaser.jpg/180px-MHBgreaser.jpg

http://www.worldlingo.com/ma/enwiki/en/Greaser_(subculture)

Hippie Subculture

Hippie subculture was originally a youth movement in the U.S during the 60's which quickly spread around the world as a subculture.



The term comes from the word hipster, "Hipsters were cool. That is, they exhibited a mellow, laid-back attitude that is still called hip."*

Hippie statement was about breaking free from society and pursuing liberation and piece.

The trend was long hair for men, the idea of vegetarian was introduced and colorful clothing.
Fashion trend was bell-bottom pants, flair jeans, long skirts for woman, blouses and clothing of various design and colour. Also the tie dye trend was introduced on various garments.



Hippies embraced the sexual revolution abut people accused them of being promiscuous and having wild sex orgies. Hippies did involve themselves in temporary sexual relations and sexual experiments unlike generations before them.
"Sex is full of lies. The body tries to tell the truth, but it's usually too battered with rules to be heard. We cripple ourselves with lies. Most people have no idea of what they're missing, our society places a supreme value on control, on hiding what you feel. It mocks primitive culture and prides itself on the suppression of natural instincts and impulses." Jim Morrison.



This subculture used drugs to explore the states of consciousness and experimented large amount of marijuana and LSD. Drugs where portrayed as the modern technology. They where led to believe that drugs soon would cure all diseases.
"Purple Haze all in my brain, lately things don't seem the same. Actin' funny but I don't know why. 'Scuse me while I kiss the sky." Jimi Hendrix

References:

* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippie

http://www.hipplanet.com/books/atoz/drugs.htm

Subcultures

"A subculture is a group of people with a culture (whether distinct or hidden) which differentiates them from the larger culture to which they belong."



There can be a hundreds of meanings to culture and subculture, everyone has a different perspective to it, but subculture is not often seen for what it really is.
To me subcultures is new, I always stereotyped people its hard to admit it but its true. Punk, goth, emo etc seemed like a stereotype more then subculture. When I started reading about them after our lecture on subcultures where we looked at teddy boys and other British subcultures I understood the meaning of subculture.
Everyone wants to be different and so fall into these subcultures.
When I think back now I belonged to a subculture once Grungers. We wore raggy clothes, ripped jeans and black mostly. In this subculture we listened to angry and angry music and "hung around" with the people who where like us and had the same "emotional" views.


References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subculture

http://www.companylogos.ws/directory/images/society-logos/subcultures.jpg

Weekly Blogging

Wow my fist post in almost 2 years and its good to be back!

I will be blogging for Culture, Society and Creative Media module as part of Creative Multimedia module. There will be weekly blogs about different topics covered in readings and lectures.

Over and Out :)