Barista in the City: Subcultural Lives, Paid Employment, and the Urban Context

Barista in the City explores the impact of paid employment and the contemporary neoliberal context on the subcultural lives of hipsters who work as baristas. It suggests that the existing literature on the relationship between neoliberalism and urban subcultures needs to be amended, as the subcultural lives of the baristas investigated were greatly diminished from the beginning due to intersecting neoliberal policies, structures of class, race, gender, and gentrification. The book presents a new theoretical perspective that could aid researchers who study urban subcultures and discusses the implications of its analysis for urban policy.

Format: Hardback
Length: 158 pages
Publication date: 23 October 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Barista in the City delves into the profound impact of paid employment and the contemporary neoliberal context on the vibrant subcultural lives of hipsters who find themselves working as baristas in the urban landscape. Through a comprehensive analysis of Philadelphia baristas employed within specialty coffee shops, the book challenges the existing literature on the relationship between neoliberalism and urban subcultures. The subcultural participants examined in previous studies, despite their intense and authentic subcultural lifestyles, were ultimately diminished due to the forces of gentrification and displacement. In contrast, the subcultural lives of the baristas under investigation by the authors experienced a significant decline from the very beginning. The intricate interplay of neoliberal policies, structures of class, race, gender, and gentrification intersected with their employment in ways that eroded their ability to establish lives that constitute a genuine alternative to mainstream culture.

The book offers a fresh theoretical framework that can greatly assist researchers exploring urban subcultures. It also engages in insightful discussions about the implications of its analysis for urban policy. Barista in the City is a vital addition to the existing literature on urban subcultures, as well as to the fields of baristas, hipsters, gentrification, and service sector employment within cities. It is an invaluable resource for students and scholars engaged in Urban Sociology, Urban Studies, Cultural Studies, and the Sociology of Work.

Weight: 470g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032272030