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... gh modification of symbols and materials found in dominate culture. Individuals identify themselves with the changes they make to their cars, allowing their automobiles to project the image that they wish for themselves. Car Stereos also are an important factor in a "bitches ride. " The volumes achievable today in automobiles is staggering.
Car Stereos often can be heard as far as a mile away, causing the whole chassis to rattle with each bass hit. West Side members, all have customized speaker kits in their cars, often in the form of a box contained in the trunk. One member told me " a good system lets you be heard peoples is here, my music. " The music played on the stereo is a different matter. Musical taste amongst West Side members varied between Rap/ Hip Hop and Country/ Classic Rock. These two genres appeared to separate some members of the group. Many of the Country/Classic Rock listeners felt like the Rap/Hip Hop listeners were not being true to their roots.
One guy commented, "country music is American born, just like baseball, hell just like low-side " perhaps implying that Rap and Hip Hop were products of the African American Experience, of which no West Side members are a part. The division of the group over musical taste gives rise concerns over the growing size of the group. Members complained frequently of how the group no longer seemed like a family. Perhaps the division of the group, via music, has allowed the group to find greater solidarity in smaller numbers. As solidarity appears to be a concern in the enrollment issue. Perhaps one reason for the establishment of the West Side low-rider club is the cruising phenomena which takes place on Patton Avenue.
Every Friday and Saturday night hundreds of young people, roughly between 14 and 25 years old, drive up and down Patton Avenue, hanging from their cars, drag racing, and having a good time. Local store owners report that the young people have been doing this for roughly twenty years. Complaining about the traffic created by the influx of cars in weekend, many feel the police should end the practice all together. That sentiment is not shared by all however, many fast food restaurants and gas station employees feel the kids are just having a good time, a woman at the Amoco station on Patton explained, "I know Id rather my kids be down here cruise and raised hell than off drink and driven round the mountains.
kids dont usually get killed in accidents down here. " The police are visible all along Patton Avenue With or without the consent of citizens, the street fills up, and Friday December sixth was no exception. It was this Friday that I arranged to meet with my friend Casper to cruise with boys / men of West Side. I met my friend and his companions in the parking lot of Cartoonz, a car stereo business on the strip owned by a club member. The parking lot was thumping with bass reverberating from the many parked cars.
This parking serves as the rendezvous point for all West Side members. After touring the parking lot, in Casper's 1989 Nissan Maxima, we pulled onto Patton and cruised the streets. Patton Avenue has a cement median running its length and a U-turn must be made to turn around. As many people are circling, the U-turn lane fills quickly, and most of the time spent cruising, is actually spent sitting at stoplights.
It is at the stoplight that most of the social exchange in cruising takes place. I watched as Casper leaned from his car window, talking to girls and yelling at other cruisers. He explained to me that it is not uncommon to see a girl in a car and ask her to come ride with you. Young people, passengers, were continually abandoning cars in exchange for a new ride. I asked my informant and his friends, what determines if a girl will come for a ride?
They explained that a really hot car or a good selection on the stereo can and usually wins a girl over. Perhaps make-up for men. After an hour of driving we pulled into Taco Bell and parked. Casper ran inside to buy a drink, as loitering is not permitted, and we all sat on the hood. Our parking spot faced Patton Avenue and the group maintained dialogue with almost every passerby. Several cars were parked in the lot and young people were everywhere.
One group appeared to be fighting, and Casper explained to me that the two guys at the center were members of another low-rider club which was splitting up as a result of allegiances to two feuding members. The fight began over the vandalism of a members ride. I asked Casper if fights were common and he said, "this whole thing is guys and their cars and their women, of course theres fights here. Shit man a guys bound to get his toes stepped on, theres a lot of bad mother censored ers down here. " The Taco Bell parking lot is considered the best on Patton avenue, as it sits at the starting line of the drag strip. Watching close to fifteen tire screeching take offs, I became amazed at the intensity of the whole thing. My friends explained to me that its pretty much the same thing as arm wrestling and you must do it to get respect.
I was reminded of a pageant of sorts. The police issue a serious fine for drag racing and their presence in the area add to a heightened since of excitement. I never got to participate in a drag race, regretfully. Drag racing has taken place for decades, as a sport of mostly men.
Many people associate the sport with aggression and fiery car crashes. Drivers on Patton Avenue have ritualized drag racing much in the same manner as many other cultures have ritualized forms of competition. The Yanomamo hold ax fights as initial form of competition or aggression. My informant told me, while physical fighting occurs frequently, the enemies have almost always raced before.
Implying that drag racing is often used initially in order to settle disputes or initiate. The night ended with my return to the parking lot of Cartoonz. There were a dozen cars sitting, running, radios blaring. I hung around for a little while and then, thanking Casper and his friends, went home. Leaving, I couldnt help but check out my car as I approached. I began wondering about my car, and whether it represented me, like clothes.
I began to think of how the West Side members go to extremes to express themselves through their automobiles. Regarding the automobile as an extension of the self, a symbol with which the identify. The symbol, automobile, becomes something with which members use to assume their identity. This phenomenon is found throughout the world and is most widely expressed clothing styles. The veil, also, has become a symbol with which many Muslim women use for identity. There is no doubt that members of West Side feel better about themselves while driving a "cool ride. " There is no quintessential "cool ride. " Everyone seems to be taking items from within the same framework.
The act of customizing ones automobile allows a person to create an individual identity while being a part of a larger group. This has led to the development of a sub-culture which is quite closely bound to the culture from which it separates itself. Bibliography:
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