Feral (subculture)

The feral subculture is a counter-cultural social movement originating in the latter part of the twentieth century, mainly centred in Australia. The movement reached its heyday in the mid 1990s, in parallel with other similar movements in Europe and elsewhere. In common with those movements, the feral phenomenon can be seen as part of the wider counterculture.[1] In Australia, the ferals are often seen as an amalgam of the punk and hippie subcultures, with a radical environmental philosophy.[2] The movement, during the 1990s, was the subject of national attention,[3] and as a phenomenon has been the subject of anthropological attention as a characteristically Australian "alternative lifestyle".[3][4]

This article is about the Australian subculture. For other uses, see Feral.

"Going Tribal",[5] a documentary by Light Source Films, examined the subculture in 1995.

The feral movement is strongly associated with radical environmentalism and a communal lifestyle, with many members residing on multiple occupancy properties. In common with the hippies before them, many members of the feral movement rely on a system of crash pads, squats, and extended networks of "friends of friends" throughout Australia to travel with a minimum of financial outlay.[6] Although the itinerant lifestyle and environmental beliefs most associated with the feral movement are akin to those of the earlier hippie movement, the ferals adopted a confrontational, politically charged style of dress, music, and philosophy more often associated with the punk movement.[7]

See also

References
  1. Cohen, Green Fire, Angus and Robertson, 1996
  2. www.feralcheryl.com.au Archived 21 October 2019 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved Tuesday, 19, 2010.
  3. Murray ibid; and W Gibbs, "Feral Aussie families: they live in trees and eat wattle seeds", Woman’s Day, 13 February 1995, pp 12-13.
  4. St John, G. 1997. Going feral: authentica on the edge of Australian culture. The Australian Journal of Anthropology 8(2): 167-189
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 20 November 2010. Retrieved 26 June 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 6 January 2009. Retrieved 21 January 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 September 2009. Retrieved 21 January 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

Further reading
  • James Luchte (2012). Of the Feral Children. London: Createspace. ISBN 978-1479294886.
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