Merchants of Cool.

Here is the list of questions.

Supplementary material on the pbs.org website.

The transcript of the documentary.

The 1997 New Yorker article on the "Coolhunt".

Interview with the maker of Merchants of Cool.

Additional resources on Hip Hop culture:

Wikipedia entry Hip Hop.




An essay on Hip Hop Culture on b-boys.com.

"The Exploitation of Women in Hip-hop Culture."

"Hip Hop as Ministry."

"Studying a Hip Hop Nation."




Additional resources on Rock and Underground culture:

Wikipedia entries on Rock music and underground culture.

Punk.

A bunch of links on Punk and Indie music on The Internet Public Library. (Another very good web resource for a wide range of topics; I have put it in the sidebar too.)

The Iranian underground.



Wikipedia entry on Goth culture.





Defining Goth.

"The Goth Culture: Its history, stereotypes, religious connections, etc."



How much has these "alternative" and "underground" cultures been absorbed into the mainstream?

What part has the media played in this process of absorption?

Were these cultures independent of commercialism in the first place?




Were they, and are they, actually what they claim to be?

Are youths part of these cultures, or consumers of these cultures? Does it matter?