| Abstrakt: |
Separation into subcultures appears in any society. Affiliation to a subculture is determined by various economic, social, or cultural factors. Moreover, people can be unaware of being part of a subculture. Subcultures are typical of the so called "low literature" and depiction of subcultures in modern literary texts is a method for illustrating various social groups, their symbols, collective actions, heroes, or values. Swedish crime fiction uses ambivalent characters to examine social issues and discuss other topical problems. In recent nine years, the number of the Swedish crime fiction novels that are translated into Latvian has been steadily growing. "Spring Tide" by Cilla Bärjling and Rolf Bärjlind and "Faceless Killers" by Henning Mankell are the first novels of two Swedish detective series that serve as an example for depiction of different subcultures and the peculiarities of crimes they commit or experience. I have analysed how the subculture of the homeless, seniors, and young people are illustrated in both literary works by using Geert Hofstede"s "Onion Model of Culture". G. Hofstede"s diagram indicates that a certain culture has its values, rituals, heroes, symbols, and practices. In "Faceless Killers" by Henning Mankell, I point out the characteristics of the subculture of old people. This subculture is portrayed as isolated, lonely, abandoned, old-fashioned, and unable to adapt to the current pace of life, generally unpleasant to be around. Old people are depicted solely as victims. In "Spring Tide" by Cilla Bärjling and Rolf Bärjlind there is the subculture of the homeless and the group of aggressive youngsters. Young people have formed a group, which organizes children cage fights and publishes videos of the homeless they have captured and beaten. The leaders of this group are violent and do not care about the law and are shown as criminals. The third subculture is the homeless. Since nobody chooses to become homeless voluntarily, this subculture does not have any particular intentionally made hairstyle or clothing style that is typical of subcultures. Nevertheless, they still have unifying elements, for example, dirty and shabby clothing or unkempt hair. The homeless are aware of their separation from the rest of the society. Homeless people in "Spring Tide" make a unique subculture that have been shown both as perpetrators and victims of crime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
