What is sociothugism?
(1) MINIMAL
DEFINITION
the concept of sociothug is formed in the conjunction of two heterogeneous flows:
(A) sociology, but social sciences in general.
(b) the gangsta
rap. the essential figure of this movement being the “thug”, often translated by “rough” or “
gangster”.
(2) CORRELAT 1
“sociothug” is before all a whole attitude more than a state, or to be more precise, a form rather than a substance, taking into account the variable character of its material expression
For example, we can define M.Foucault as a sociothug for at least two reasons: (A) fine theorist, he
nevertheless took part in the struggles of his time with greatest temerity by acting according to the
public enemy statement “fight the power!” (to simplify) (B) while being highly “fit” in the "bourgeois" society
(normalien, professor at the College of
France) he could experiment means to constitute himself as a subject,
heterogeneous to this class (homosexuality, frequentation of sadomasochistic clubs).
We think that Foucault is a sociothug although we also think that this type of attitude is not really any more
“thug” a) engagement - even “radical” - can be a specific form of social control and (B) marginal sexual practices
are recoded according to the despotic axiom of “sexuality”.
So the form of the sociothug is recomposed constantly according to the changings of power relations.
(3) CORRELAT 2
the form-sociothug occurs according to a conjunctive and nondisjunctive synthesis (to be a sociologist and listen to gangsta
rap at the same time is not a sufficient condition). The sociothug enters into in resonance these two characteristics are combined.
(4) ATTRIBUTS/PROPRIETES
We think that a sociothug today is characterized by the following things:
(A) an attentive listening of what it is done of more pointed in
music; but without falling into a elitiste black
hole (“before- gardiste- terrorist” type ) or sailing on a micro-
fascist line (“arrière gardiste reactionary” type) therefore a sociothug can listen to good experimental
music, little girl pop
music, or gangsta
rap classics.
(b) a rigorous reflexion at egal distance of demagogy and elitism, politically correct and free
provocation; and consequently without falling into the double risk of the solvent relativism and authoritative
dogmatism.
(c) a specific attention given to physical appearance, on the basis that it is a nodal point in the
power relations (there is a whole micro-policy of clothing) and in the constitution of oneself as an autonomous subject.
WETHER YOU ARE
WHITE ARABS OR BLACKS, WETHER YOU LIVE IN A
POOR AREA, SUBURBAN HOUSES OR RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT, SOCIOTHUGS
OF ALL COUNTRIES GATHER!
it will be necessary more to work on the concept of
gangster according to the indications provided by Roi Heenok:
Jacques Chirac being defined as
gangster and
gentleman.
