BETH ROONEY | Chicago | Photographer|

Photo Essays :: Stories: Style and Culture

Style is something we all can relate to whether we deny that we have it or do everything we can to enhance it. Style is omnipresent and classifies people. This project was a study of how different groups interact with one another, and how they perceive other groups. I focused on three main groups: Greek (sororities and fraternities), Co-Ops (an alternative living community in Granville, Ohio) and the Hipsters, a more artistic group. 

 

 

  • Members of an audience at Casa Cantina watch a 3-D movie during a special Casa Collections event on April 20, 2004. The night was a celebration of the {quote}holiday{quote} 4.20, which celebrates various ways of smoking marijuana and the experience of being high.
  • Brian Humerkowzer, in his ‘blood, trash, disaster’ themed clothes, poses with his friend Emily Heilsman at ‘Lancaster Prom,’ a street party thrown by members of the ‘hipster crowd’ at Ohio University. The prom was held as an alternative to more traditional street parties held in Athens, Ohio.
  • Zach, left, and Jessie, right, dance at a fundraiser for the independent college radio station ACRN. {quote}I like to shock people, that’s my style,{quote} says Zach. {quote}The more of a reaction I get, the better. Dancing sexy with another guy is just another way of getting attention.{quote}
  • A washing machine serves as a container for ice and beer at Lancaster Prom on May 5, 2004. Lancaster Prom is a street party thrown by members of the 'hipster crowd' at Ohio University. The prom was held as an alternative to more traditional street parties held in Athens, Ohio.
  • Dance or Die May 6, 2004.
  • Marisha Hall dances with Emily Simpkins at Dance or Die on May 6, 2004. {quote}A subculture would be a group of people that has a way of living and their ideas that go against mainstream culture,{quote} says Liz Kozup. {quote}And every single subculture or group does that in some way or another. Which can make any group a subculture and can make any group mainstream to another culture.{quote}
  • Liz Kozup, Monica Gulley, and Katey Foley dance at Dance or Die on May 6, 2004. {quote}I think that style is sort of how you see yourself in relation to those around you,{quote}  says Kozup. {quote}Most people you see if they are together a lot they start to dress similar and enjoy similar things.{quote}
  • ‘V Fox, a DJ for ACRN, writes {quote}ACRN Rocks{quote}  in the condensation on the window of Casa at $2 Prom on April 30, 2004. {quote}I think a lot of times I'd like to pretend we're very different from other groups,{quote} says Liz Kozup {quote}But that's a little pretentious and kind of naïve to think that. People are really the same all over.{quote}
  • Members of various Greek organizations play flip cup (foreground) and beer pong (background) at the Delta Upsilon party barn. {quote}Well frat life...I don't know if it's a culture or a subculture,{quote} says Jim Velleta. {quote}I look at it as an organization that’s part of OU that helps OU through philanthropic events. But I think those things get overshadowed by the parties, or the secrecy and rituals and secret handshakes.{quote}
  • Members of Pi Phi dance with their partners during Air Band practice. Air Bands is the last competition that the Greeks participate in during Greek Week.
  • A sorority girl holds a drink at {quote}Date Party{quote} at the Theta Chi house. {quote}There's definitely a fraternity look. You can really tell at OU who's a fraternity guy or a sorority girl and who's artsy.{quote}
  • Steve Muetzel at the 'Anything but Clothes Party' at the Theta Chi house on May 7, 2004. This was one of several parties during Greek Week at Ohio University. {quote}I believe in Theta Chi, it's traditions and it’s ideals born of a sturdy manhood, nurtured by resolute men....{quote} (the beginning of the Theta Chi’s pledge)
  • Brian Veek dumps water on Nick {quote}Chops{quote} Dunston during their spring philanthropy event.
  • Rocco Tissone stands on a mountain of beer behind the bar at the Theta Chi house during a house party.
  • Kegs and Eggs was one of the last events of Greek Week. Not many members of any Greek organization showed up to drink until around 8:30 am.
  • Jim Velleta talks to fellow Theta Chi’s during their spring philanthropy.
  • Jared Donnamiller and Steve Muetzel wait in line for their food at McDonalds during Kegs and Eggs, a party that follows a heavy night of drinking.
  • Just another party...at the end of Greek Week the Theta Chi’s had an open house party to celebrate their participation in the week. {quote}When you talk about going to college you hear about fraternity guys everywhere. And there they are in the brochures,{quote} says Theta Chi member, Denis Hurt. {quote}Wearing their shirts saying, 'Rush our fraternity.' They're a mainstream culture. I don't know many colleges that don't have a Greek system.{quote}
  • Homesteaders walk down to Cabin Bob at the Homestead for dinner. {quote}The beauty of the Homestead is that it's got a mission and a purpose,{quote} explains Chris Seagull. {quote}And the people that live out here kind of share in that mission and that purpose. So you feel like the solidarity makes this a comforting place. The Homestead is a subculture that is being put out there.  It's not a subculture that thrives at being a subculture.{quote}
  • {quote}The Homesteaders enjoy some ice cream after completing the new outhouse. {quote}It's so unique that you have a lot of very different people living together, but it’s a really cohesive group,{quote} says Cicley Andree. {quote}I think it’s a really healthy environment. So in that sense it’s definitely a unique place.{quote}
  • A Denison University sign serves as a table at the Homestead in Granville, Ohio. The Homestead is an “alternative to the dorms” of Denison University, but it is not easy to become part of this self-contained living community. Applicants must write essays and go through an interview process before being accepted.
  • Chris Strong, Casey Leneskie, and Anthea Williams (foreground) give themselves semi-permanent tattoos with India ink and safety pins. This process involves dipping the pin into the ink, and pressing the pin into the skin.
  • A view from inside the outhouse the Homesteaders built out of glass bottles and cement.
  • Cicley and Ross listen to stories after dinner at the Homestead.
  • Cicley and Erin Thelen (foreground) discuss Sarah Peck’s painting. {quote}It seems like style would reflect culture, but I don't think that's always true,{quote} says Andree. {quote}Like for example, at the Homestead a lot of people assume that all the homesteaders are hippies or vegetarians, those kinds of things. Because of the way that people dress, but that might not necessarily be reflective of who they are.{quote}
  • After dinner it is not uncommon for the Homesteaders to play outside and wrestle. {quote}For me that's something I've really started to think about the importance of having a strong supportive family environment or community environment,{quote} states Andree. {quote}If you have that you're able to explore more on your own because you know that you're always coming back to a firm ground.{quote}
  • David, Erin, Hans and Kate take a break after finishing the new outhouse. {quote}I don't know, maybe this might be intense, but a lot of people talk about all these social problems and environmental problems, these really big issues,{quote} states Andree. {quote}It seems like if people started out with a nice firm base then there wouldn't be so many larger issues.{quote}
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