The Subculture Of Urban Space - 1566 Words

The subculture of lowriding has been a way for Mexican Americans to express themselves through their â€Å"tricked out† vehicles. It was, as journalist Ted West wrote, a way to â€Å"express the refusal of a young Chicano American to be Anglicized. There has never been a clearer case of the automobile being used as an ethnic statement.† Although there are preconceived notions of negativity such as gang involvement with lowriding, that notion is false, and shows how the lowrider community is misunderstood. However, lowriding isn’t as prevalent in America as it was back in the 70’s. Regardless it’s still thriving in the United States among other ethnicities and internationally for similar reasons it became huge in the U.S. The construction and presentation of lowriders are an outlet for artistic expression to redefine and challenge the assimilation of urban space. So what is a lowrider? Well a lowrider is a vehicle, preferably an American made one su ch as a Ford, Chevy, or General Motor from the 50’s to the mid 70’s that has a lowered chassis, hydraulic system, custom wheels (rims), narrow tires, cozy lush interior, elaborate and colorful paint job with designs or murals, and an overall streamlined exterior to stand out. (Chappell). There are many varying opinions on what constitutes a car as a lowrider, but these are the main components to officially label the car as one. As you can tell, these requirements are extremely particular, however these are the reasons why initiation intoShow MoreRelatedShedding Light on Gay Culture in New York in George Chauncey’s Gay New York Gender, Urban Culture, and the Making of the Gay Male World683 Words   |  3 PagesGeorge Chauncey’s Gay New York Gender, Urban Culture, and the Making of the Gay Male World 1890-1940, goes where no other historian had gone before, and that is into the world of homosexuality before World War II. 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