A Museum of Youth Culture — who knew? (meaning me…)
This week I was in central London just before the city moved to Tier 3 (Tier 4 tomorrow) and I came across the Museum of Youth Culture Arts Lab. I was so intrigued as, a) I had never heard of this museum and b) I was wondering what kind of collection this museum entailed. So in this week’s post, I pose several questions on how representations of youth culture can form a museum collection.
What is youth culture?
I guess it depends on who you ask. And what period of time is being reflected through said culture. For Buchmann (2001), ‘youth culture refers to the cultural practice of members of this age group by which they express their identities and demonstrate their sense of belonging…’
However this Underground blog suggests ‘it’s about a movement, whatever that generation’s movement is at the time…it’s the variants between these permanent aspects that come to define different youth cultures’
This makes me wonder how this museum intends to collect a nuanced and evolving phenomenon…
Back to the Museum of Youth Culture
This short video explains the who, why and future plans of this museum, which includes building a physical space by 2023!
Of course, photographs, films and ephemera are go-to materials which show some visual representation of youth culture in Britain. And how it’s evolved over time.
But I am wondering, what else will be collected? How will youth cultures that chose not to document events etc. (ever or infrequently) be represented in this space? Here, I’m thinking of a Touching Bass event, where using your phone was discouraged on the dance floor as it distracts attendees from the present moment. However, disposable cameras were available to take pictures during the event. I guess time will tell. Hopefully, I’ll be able to visit the Museum of Youth Culture Arts Lab in 2021 — which closes in March — tier/ lockdown restrictions pending of course
To round up, I also had a few questions for readers:
- What aspects of youth culture were you (or, are still) part of?
- What period of youth culture resonates with you most?
- Do you engage with youth culture(s) of today? If so, how? If not, why?
