Top 20 urban tribes (characteristics and aesthetics)

We analyze the most popular subcultures, their aesthetics and philosophical principles.

Since the 60s, several subcultures have been appearing and conquering the big cities: the urban tribes.. These are groups of people with tastes and interests in common, differentiated from those of the majority culture.

Their members share an identity and proudly display it: style of dress, rules, the same slang, musical tastes and, depending on which tribes, the same ideology.

Here we are going to expose the 20 main urban tribes, talking about their tastes, their philosophy of life and their main references.

The 20 main urban tribes

Nowadays there are hundreds of different urban tribes and they have been emerging from the union and decomposition of many others. Let's take a look at a few of them below.

1. Hippies

They appeared as a result of the protests against the Vietnam War in the 1960s.. Known for their pacifist ideals, being nature lovers and free love. They are not averse to experimenting with psychedelic drugs.

Long hair, big sunglasses, clothes dyed in many colors and sandals. One of their most prominent representatives is the psychologist Tim Leary.

2. Gothic

What is dead cannot die, and the goths are an example of this.. They love everything related to the afterlife and the mystery that surrounds it.

They are conspicuous for having no color at all, only black. Victorian clothes, black leather and eyeliner of the same color, as if they were in mourning. In addition, they accompany it with religious elements, such as crosses and other symbols.

The maximum exponent of gothic music is Siouxsie and the Banshees.

3. Rappers

Graffiti, clothes several sizes too big, caps with the visor backwards and, of course, rap music.. They usually also wear large jewelry, gold chains, rings and watches, combined with large sneakers.

Rappers have been stereotypically associated with delinquency and drug trafficking, due to their marginal origins. Their history goes back to New York in the 1980s, a breeding ground for social protest that crystallized into the musical style of the same name and, later, into a whole aesthetic current and a true subculture that is present in many countries.

4. Hipsters

The followers of this urban tribe pretend not to follow conventional aesthetic interests.. They enjoy vintage aesthetics and indie music. They wear horn-rimmed glasses, scarves, hats, thick beards and the occasional tattoo.

They frequent "little known" places. They like organic food and as good foodies they can't stop trying new and exotic dishes. They are usually pacifists and ecologists.

5. Emos

This urban tribe is one of the best known, despite being almost extinct. Its name comes from "Emotional Hardcore Music" and its members tend to have a pessimistic its members usually have a pessimistic view of life..

They wear black clothes, eyeliner and paint their nails the same color, wear eyebrow and lip piercings and wear converse sneakers.

At its peak it comprised young people between the ages of 14 and 20. One of the greatest musical exponents was My Chemical Romance.

6. Punks

Originally of ideals opposed to fascism, imperialism and capitalism.. Sometimes they are quite violent and are usually recognized as members of groups and groups of extreme left.

Their appearance is striking for wearing colorful crests, several piercings all over the body and tattoos. Leather is a must, as well as clothing with anarchist symbols.

7. Heavies

What happens when you combine rock aesthetics with hippie ideals? You have the heavies.

Their appearance is characterized by their wearing greasy hair, jeans, wristbandstight pants. Famous for their fondness for shaking their heads and making their long hair dance.

Great representatives of this aesthetic are Mägo de Oz.

8. Rastafarians

What originally was a religious movement was gradually transformed into an urban tribe.. The Rastafarians originally considered the last Ethiopian emperor, Haile Selassie I, to be the incarnation of God.

Dreadlocks, sandals, big and comfortable clothes, and some cannabis cigarettes. Red, yellow and green, as well as the Jamaican flag, where this subculture was born, cannot be missing in their clothes. Their philosophy is to live life as simply as possible, peacefully and happily.

9. Frikis (otakus, gamers and geeks)

It is one of the most recent tribes, and can be grouped into three subcultures that share the fact that they all have an obsessive fascination with something that sets them apart from society.

• First, we have the otaku.. Consumers of anime and manga, and everything that comes from the Land of the Rising Sun. They usually go to conventions where they show their skills in making costumes or cosplays.

• In second place we have the gamersgamers, addicted to video games. They are up to date with all the technology related to electronic leisure: consoles, digital updates, specialized keyboards. Fortnite is a must.

• And lastly, among the geeks, we have the geeks.. Very interested in new technologies, in a more general sense than gamers. Robotics and computer science are two areas they master and can spend entire nights programming.

10. Skaters

This urban tribe is somewhat curious, because unlike most of the others, it was born out of a sport: skateboarding, it was born out of a sport: skateboarding..

They tend to concur in squares, ramps or any place where they can test their skateboarding skills. Their appearance is very varied, as well as their musical tastes.

11. Rockabillies

They are into classic rock, like Elvis.. They usually wear leather jackets, classic jeans, tattoos and they stand out for their very greased and combed hair, forming not at all discreet toupees.

12. Swaggers

Addicted to everything brand name.. Indispensable that the cell phone is the latest that has been released on the market, to wear it out using it for hours and hours on their social networks. They can't stop for a moment without posting something.

13. Muppies

Maybe their name is not so well known, but this urban tribe is very widespread. You may be one of them without knowing it.

Addicted to technology and healthy living.. The muppies are young adults very professionally prepared who are not willing to work in something far from what they have studied.

They wear brand names but do not follow specific trends. Sports habits are indispensable, especially outdoors. Travel is a must.

14. Pokemon

It is a widespread tribe in Latin America. Its members opt for a rejection of maturity, avoiding responsibilities and growing up..

The abuse of gel in their hair, lip piercings, lots of eye make-up and colorful clothes is striking. It can be related to the Peter Pan Syndrome.

15. Reggaetoneros

Very wide clothes in men and very tight in women.. They can not miss the jewels in the neck, rings and gold bracelets. They wear sunglasses even at night. Men wear short hair, caps and brand name clothes.

Although it is of South American origin, it has been spreading through the Latin diaspora in Spain and the United States.

16. Grunges

Followers of Kurt Cobain and other grunge singers.. They reject the consumerist society and people without personality.

Non-conformist clothing but selected in a stylish way, trying to represent the anguish for life. Blouse, plaid shirts and jeans are very recurrent garments.

17. Skinheads

They listen to ska, rock and punk music.. Fans of soccer and beer.

As their name suggests, they wear shaved heads. They usually wear jeans with suspenders, jackets and even plaid skirts. They are usually related to extreme right-wing or extreme left-wing groups.

18. Posh

Very well dressed. The hair gelled, the sweater knotted to the neck forming a cloak, polo shirts and smooth pants.

With the passage of time, this urban tribe has been blurring, becoming camouflaged with other apparently opposite groups.

One of the most representative groups: the G-men.

19. Hip-Hop

Originally they wore cheap street clothes, bandanas and jeans.. With the passage of time, as hip-hop music has become more and more popular, several record companies have commercialized this aesthetic. An example of this is Tupac.

20. Chonis and canis

One of the most typically Spanish tribes of all time.. Their main concern is to live the party. They frequent discotheques until they close, and move the party to the nearest parking lot to party.

They wear bright colors: men's tracksuits and women's low-cut necklines. Gold jewelry is always present. Hair shaved or with crests in the men and very long in the women, to be able to make all kinds of buns.

Bibliographical references:

• Berzano, L., Genova, C. (2015). Lifestyles and Subcultures. History and a New Perspective. New York: Routledge.

• Fine, G. A., & Kleinman, S. (1979). Rethinking Subculture: An Interactionist Analysis. American Journal of Sociology, 85(1), 1-20.

• Hall, Stuart, Tony Jefferson (1993). Resistance Through Rituals: Youth Subcultures in Post-War Britain.

• Maffesoli, Michel (1996). The Time of the Tribes: The Decline of Individualism in Mass Society. London: Sage Publications.