[Extension 'scheme-3' (56364) on page 'india-connecting-uk-diary.htm'] Line 1: TypeError: assignment to undeclared variable strScheme
[Extension 'outputScheme' (56370) on page 'india-connecting-uk-diary.htm'] Line 50: ReferenceError: strScheme is not defined
[Extension 'Show Nav' (8929) on page 'india-connecting-uk-diary.htm'] Line 1: TypeError: assignment to undeclared variable showNav
[Extension 'None' (8877) on page 'india-connecting-uk-diary.htm'] Line 1: TypeError: assignment to undeclared variable noOfLinks
[Extension 'Hide Slot 3' (9108) on page 'india-connecting-uk-diary.htm'] Line 1: TypeError: assignment to undeclared variable showSlot3
[Extension 'Show 1 Slot' (8876) on page 'india-connecting-uk-diary.htm'] Line 1: TypeError: assignment to undeclared variable noOfSlots
[Extension 'Hide Slot 2' (8803) on page 'india-connecting-uk-diary.htm'] Line 1: TypeError: assignment to undeclared variable showSlot2
[Extension 'None' (9456) on page 'india-connecting-uk-diary.htm'] Line 1: TypeError: assignment to undeclared variable noOfLinks2
[Extension 'None' (14864) on page 'india-connecting-uk-diary.htm'] Line 1: TypeError: assignment to undeclared variable noOfLinks3
[Extension 'Hide Slot 25' (808488) on page 'india-connecting-uk-diary.htm'] Line 1: TypeError: assignment to undeclared variable showSlot25
There is a huge range of youth culture in the UK. Are we divided into different tribes, or are the boundaries less clear cut?
Walk through any town in the UK and you will see a wide and wild mix of young cultures and style. They group together, some would say in gangs. These gangs are generally softer, friendlier than the punks and teddy boys of the past, more like tribes. So what are the main tribes?
Chavs and scallies
Stereotypically they wear flashy gold jewellery, tracksuits, ‘hoodies’ and baseball caps. They like rap music and RnB. Jane, 14, says ‘I’ve been called a chav, but I don’t think I am. I just like to wear brand labels – I think they look good!’
Baby Goths
Goths love everything black – long black hair, black make up, black clothes, and black painted nails. They are often fascinated by the occult, and they listen to music like Marilyn Manson, HIM and Sisters of Mercy. Tom, 17, describes himself as a Goth, ‘Yeah I wear a lot of black, but it’s not a necessity. Being a Goth is more about the music you listen to.’
Skaters
This group love their skateboards. They wear baggy jeans and have lots of tattoos of body piercings. ‘I spend most of my time hanging about in the town centre. There are lots of places to practise new skateboard tricks,’ says Mark, 16.
Indie kids
Indies are very passionate about guitar music. They wear skinny jeans and scruffy trainers and go to lots of music gigs. Indie Emma, 21, says ‘at the moment I love the Arctic Monkeys and Kasabian, but there are always new bands coming up.’
Mixed up
There are many more tribes than these four examples. With so many different types, can there be clear cut distinctions between current UK tribes? Matt, 20, doesn’t think so, ‘I don’t classify myself as belonging to one group. I wear baggy jeans (like skaters), I have long hair (like Goths) and I play my guitar a lot (like Indies). It doesn’t really matter as long as you fit in with your own friends. Anyway trends change so fast it’s hard to keep up.’
Future Tribes
A lot of us are more like Matt, a mix of aspects defining each tribe. But what will be the next tribes? Research by Ramp Industries predicts that the Olympic Games in London in 2012 will create a sports-obsessed tribe, and rising environmental problems will lead to a tribe called ‘the activists’. We’ll have to wait and see.
Online resources:
Online games have reached a whole new level with the creation of Second Life, a virtual world where people can live out their dreams.
Living a virtual life, image © Second Life®
A whole new world
Have you ever wished that you could change your appearance, build your own house or set up a business? Well now you can do all this and more without ever leaving home. Created by Californian firm, Linden Lab, Second Life has become the latest internet phenomenon in the UK and has one million users across the globe. Players can join the website and create their own onscreen graphic character or ‘avatar’. So if you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to be taller, more stylish or even a different gender then here’s your chance. In fact, Second Life isn’t really a game in the traditional sense; there are no dragons to slay or dungeons to escape from. Its founder, Philip Rosedale, says instead that he’s aiming to ‘build a new country’, where people can make just about anything from scratch.
Living your dreams
Second Life users or ‘residents’ can use a virtual currency called Linden Dollars to buy land and develop it in any way they choose. Nottingham computer programmer Jim Purbrik says this is one of the things that sets Second Life apart from other online games, ‘it’s a virtual world built by the people who use it’. The potential for advertising has caught the attention of businesses. Toyota is giving away free virtual cars and Nike has developed special trainers helping avatars to run faster. Popstars are also getting involved, with British group Duran Duran buying an island so they can perform online. ‘I’m constantly inspired by what people are building here,’ says British Second Life resident, Jon Kossman.
Virtual business, real money
What’s more, residents also own their own creations so it’s possible to make real life money too. Through her avatar Anshe Chung, Chinese-born Ailin Graef has created a property empire in Second Life where Linden Dollars can be exchanged for real money. Meanwhile, Brit, Chris Mead, is making about £1,000 a week by charging other players to use his specially created software, which allows avatars to cuddle. But it’s not just the chance to meet people, make money and build things that’s attracting 8,000 new users to the site every day. Virtual worlds like Second Life may also become the classrooms of the future, enabling people to study just about anything at any time. So living a virtual life could help us in real life too.
Glossary:
From scratch – from the very beginning
Trainers – a sports shoe designed for running, jogging etc
Cuddle – to hold somebody close for warmth, comfort or affection
Online resources:
Think big, publish small. Image © Hannah Powell, British Council.
Book deals and big-name prizes dominate mainstream publishing but there is a new route for writers: publishing short fiction with independent publishers.
Picture a high-street bookshop: tower blocks of autobiographies, bestsellers and three-for-two offers compete for attention. Meanwhile, a previous winner of the Man Booker prize smiles down from a poster. In such glossy company a writer at the beginning of his or her career may feel uneasy.
How can I get published?
‘Be realistic,’ is the advice given on Creative Writing courses, when students dare to dream of fame and fortune. Like most writers I’d prefer to stay in my imagination but it’s probably time I gave up on winning the Dylan Thomas prize (for writers under 30) or the Orange prize (for women authors). But as I continue to look for a literary agent – someone to approach publishers with my novel – I realise there are other ways of introducing myself to readers.
Short and sweet
Short stories may not offer riches but they can provide an ideal, low-investment read to a busy audience (think of train rides, waiting rooms). They’re also a good way for writers to leave a ‘calling card’, to help promote their talents. While less words doesn’t always mean less work, short stories are also a way for writers to produce a complete piece while still working full-time.
Visit the fair
At the last Manchester Book Fair, many new readers and writers visited the stalls of independent publishers. One of the organisers is Ra Page, editor-in-chief of Comma, who since 2002 has published a huge variety of short stories from writers outside London. Through Ra I published my first short story in 2004: The Proofreader. Fingers-crossed my second, The Gloaming, will be appearing later this year in a Comma Christmas horror special. So, you see, it’s possible. Already I’m making my way towards the big book.
Online resources:
Fact file
[Extension 'counter-incrementer' (9125) on page 'india-connecting-uk-diary.htm'] Line 1: ReferenceError: counter is not defined
[Extension 'counter-incrementer' (9125) on page 'india-connecting-uk-diary.htm'] Line 1: ReferenceError: counter is not defined
[Extension 'counter-incrementer' (9125) on page 'india-connecting-uk-diary.htm'] Line 1: ReferenceError: counter is not defined
[Extension 'counter-incrementer' (9125) on page 'india-connecting-uk-diary.htm'] Line 1: ReferenceError: counter is not defined
[Extension 'counter-incrementer' (9125) on page 'india-connecting-uk-diary.htm'] Line 1: ReferenceError: counter is not defined
[Extension 'counter-incrementer' (9125) on page 'india-connecting-uk-diary.htm'] Line 1: ReferenceError: counter is not defined
[Extension 'counter-incrementer' (9125) on page 'india-connecting-uk-diary.htm'] Line 1: ReferenceError: counter is not defined
[Extension 'counter-incrementer' (9125) on page 'india-connecting-uk-diary.htm'] Line 1: ReferenceError: counter is not defined
[Extension 'counter-incrementer' (9125) on page 'india-connecting-uk-diary.htm'] Line 1: ReferenceError: counter is not defined
[Extension 'counter-incrementer' (9125) on page 'india-connecting-uk-diary.htm'] Line 1: ReferenceError: counter is not defined
Open the original version of this page.
Usablenet Assistive is a UsableNet product. Usablenet Assistive Main Page.