Critical Review #3: Maira 1999

Maira, Sunaina. "Identity Dub: The Paradoxes of an Indian American Youth Subculture (New York Mix)." Cultural Anthropology. Vol. 14, No. 1. 1999. pp. 29-60.

After starting in an ethnographic moment of an Indian American club scene, Maira argues that fashion and music as displayed in such clubs and desi parties are of the utmost importance to the Indian American youth subculture. The second-generation subculture mixes hip-hop with traditional Indian music brought from overseas, therefore giving them a unique identity of both the old and the new. However, she points out that this does not necessarily mean that the group is trying to assimulate and become part of the "melting pot" by mixing the two cultures.

Maira also points out that the although the subculture likes to hold onto both American and Indian aspects in their life, many times these two different cultures can be at odds. She writes about a few teenagers who have to change clothes before going out, so they may be wearing conservative clothes in front of their parents, but more provacative clothes upon entering the club. She also writes about the male notion that Indian females should be cool, and therefore go to the parties, but also maintain a virtuous side, so that they can be good wives someday.

A quote in the piece I found interesting was a quote from Simon Frith: "for young people... music probably has the most important role in the mapping of social networks, determining how and where they meet and court and party." (34)

I do not totally agree with this sentiment. While I agree that it has meaning to me, because I place so much importance on music, I know many others that do not find music as important in their lives. They'll listen to a certain genre, but perhaps not as often as I do, nor do they place the importance of making friends who share their taste. Some of my friends and I don't listen to the same type of music at all. We met each other through sports teams or clubs, but not music. Music is important to the lives of young people - but the most important? That may be a bit too strong of a phrase. Besides music, what else plays an important role in the social networks of a culture?