"...finding your own league" - Week 4 Readings

Tom Wolfe's compilation of short stories "The Pump-House Gang" is all about the conception of social status. He is portraying the lives of a great variety of subcultures like Bikers, 'Hair Boys', and, of course, Surfers. The most horrible thing in life the members of the Pump-House Gang can imagine is turning 25. Growing old is what they fear most, they never want to become on of the black panthers. They are rebels. But what interested me most is that they are rebels without a cause. They are children of the lucky post World War II generation that gave them time to be against IT. Whatever it may be. In my opinion, the Tom Wolfe reading shows how surfing is on the same hand rebellion, as it is conspicuous leisure. The gang is in a "mexican standoff" with the older generation, just because they do not have anything else to rebel against. They have found "their own league," as Wolfe is calling it, and they do everything to keep it to them. The concept of age-segregation seems to be somehow related to that of localism in surf culture. You found your niche and you want to keep it for yourself. The Pump-House Gang's niche is also endangered by the growing popularity of their "league." That is why their beaches are packed and it also shows that the transition of surfing into mainstream culture is definitely happening at that time (as the Crowley reading on the Beach Boys illustrated).