Stereotype #1

     Since this blog means to "de-bunk" dug-in stereotypes, we'll start with a recently formed one; Scene Kids.  Now in the life of a stereotype, this one is just now maturing; having gained much attention starting about 4 or 5 years ago.
     Now what exactly is a scene kid?  Well, like most stereotypes, once they gain popularity they go from a "style" to a "lifestyle;" this meaning that it went from a way kids looked to the way people live their life.  First of all, how do you spot a Scene Kid?  Well the major characteristics are as follow:

• "Highlighter" Colors, often over the black background of band shirts
• Multi-colored hair, streaks of bright colors, often pink, purple and blue.
• Women have very volumous hair often referred to as "teased hair" and often elaborate makeup.
• Skin Tight Jeans/ Skinny Jeans- Men often wear women's jeans
• Accessories such as belts, tattoos, huge sunglasses, piercings and gauges.
• Classic shoes, such as vans or converse/ women often wear mocassins or flats

          Now for some of the social culture of a Scene Kid:
     Scene Kids go to lots of shows, mostly local bands, but really any that are happening at their favorite joints.  This, consequently, is a very good thing; not only does it support local bands, it also supports local businesses that sponsor the shows.  A person dedicated to the "lifestyle" should quickly gain an expansive repertoire of music.
     On the topic of music, the Scene Kid movement has led to a new genre of music, one that goes by many names; the most common of which are "metalcore" and "scenecore."  This music is characterized by "scene" chords or "horror" chords and ridiculous, often humorous, breakdowns.  One breakdown that is widely known is "Boom Snap Clap" by Irish Front (which can be viewed at this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6qUlSZhoK8).
     Another aspect of Scene Kids is their heavy use of social networking sites.  This starting out on the now dying MySpace, but still lives strong on sites such as Facebook.  For some, it seems to be a contest to see who can have the most friends, which is a common misconception.  Another one of these misconceptions is an abundance of photos, though there are many scene girls who snap many, many pictures through the course of the night, this is a characteristic that can be found in many social groups.
     Scene Kids take a lot of drugs and drink a lot of alcohol.  This is probably one of the most common misconceptions that goes around.  Sure there are a few people who display this, but most don't; and if you really don't believe me, look at any social group, there are always some bad apples that make the rest look bad.


Now, with the exception of a few bad examples (which exist in any group), Scene Kids aren't all that bad; sure their music may get annoying if you don't like it, or you may not like their style, but really they aren't any more troublesome than most "cliques" that arise.