Representing the Working Class between Insubordination and Counter-hegemony: Chav Solidarity and Wasp
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54103/2035-7680/30945Keywords:
Cultural Studies, Chav, Class, Hegemony, RepresentationAbstract
This paper explores the intersection of class and language within the theoretical framework of Cultural Studies, with specific reference to the tradition of the Birmingham Centre for Contemporary Cultural Studies (CCCS). Its objective is to demonstrate the enduring relevance and pedagogical value of Cultural Studies, which remains perceived as a 'lateral' discipline within the Italian academic context. The first part analyzes the reflections of Stuart Hall, Raymond Williams, Richard Hoggart, and Antonio Gramsci, intersecting them with the author's research on the 'chav' phenomenon. In the second part, two case studies—the short film Wasp (Arnold, 2003) and the memoir Chav Solidarity (Hunter, 2020)—illustrate how class is represented, performed, and politicized through linguistic practices. Finally, a proposed teaching activity aims to engage students in a process of critical self-reflection consistent with the transformative pedagogy inherent in Cultural Studies.
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