Pokemon (subculture)
Encyclopedia
Pokemón is the name of an urban tribe among Chile
's youth that surfaced in the mid 2000s and began to decline in late 2009. They are readily identifiable by their angular and pressed hairstyles, reminiscent of characters from the Japan
ese media franchise Pokémon
. It was one of the largest and better known urban tribes in the country.
Pokemones dressed similarly to other urban tribes, such as Otaku
and Emo
, but they were not followers of anime
like the former, nor shared the musical tastes of the latter. Apart from borrowing aspects from the Emo, like the sideswept bangs
, the Pokemones also shared some aspects typical to the Punk and the local "Hardcore" subculture. Pokemones were livelier more extroverted than the Emo and Otaku stereotypes. Most pokemones were teens. During parties they danced to reggaeton
music, while kissing and groping with as many people (male or female) as they can, which they call poncear. They make extensive use of the Internet
, trading photos of themselves on image-sharing site Fotolog
and communicating through MSN Messenger.
Pokemones are usually from the Chilean middle and lower class. They are frequently juxtaposed against another group, the so-called peloláis, well-to-do girls with long, straight fairer hair from private, Catholic schools.
In January 2008, Internet messages surfaced urging violence against Pokemones (mainly because of borrowing aspects from other subcultures, such as Emo hair, hip-hop clothes, and for using the c-walk
). People belonging to the subculture increasingly began to be attacked outside discos and pubs. In response, a joint anti-violence campaign called "Foundation for a Better Future" has been organized by the Chilean government and Santiago
's main student leaders.
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
's youth that surfaced in the mid 2000s and began to decline in late 2009. They are readily identifiable by their angular and pressed hairstyles, reminiscent of characters from the Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese media franchise Pokémon
Pokémon
is a media franchise published and owned by the video game company Nintendo and created by Satoshi Tajiri in 1996. Originally released as a pair of interlinkable Game Boy role-playing video games developed by Game Freak, Pokémon has since become the second most successful and lucrative video...
. It was one of the largest and better known urban tribes in the country.
Pokemones dressed similarly to other urban tribes, such as Otaku
Otaku
is a Japanese term used to refer to people with obsessive interests, particularly anime, manga or video games.- Etymology :Otaku is derived from a Japanese term for another's house or family , which is also used as an honorific second-person pronoun...
and Emo
Emo
Emo is a style of rock music and its associated subcultureEmo may also refer to:- Businesses :* Emo , an Irish oil company and filling station chain* Emo Speedway, a racetrack in Emo, Ontario...
, but they were not followers of anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
like the former, nor shared the musical tastes of the latter. Apart from borrowing aspects from the Emo, like the sideswept bangs
Fringe (hair)
Fringe are a shaped cutting of the front part of the hair so that it is combed forward and hangs or curls over the forehead. A classic fringe is cut fairly straight at or above the eyebrows, but fringes can also be ragged or ruffled, spiked up with hair gel, swept to one side or the other, and...
, the Pokemones also shared some aspects typical to the Punk and the local "Hardcore" subculture. Pokemones were livelier more extroverted than the Emo and Otaku stereotypes. Most pokemones were teens. During parties they danced to reggaeton
Reggaeton
Reggaeton is a form of Puerto Rican and Latin American urban and Caribbean music. After its mainstream exposure in 2004, it spread to North American, European and Asian audiences. Reggaeton originated in Puerto Rico but is also has roots from Reggae en Español from Panama and Puerto Rico and...
music, while kissing and groping with as many people (male or female) as they can, which they call poncear. They make extensive use of the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
, trading photos of themselves on image-sharing site Fotolog
Fotolog
Fotolog.com is a Web 2.0-based shared photoblog web site. With over 30 million registered users, it is one of the oldest and largest sites for sharing pictures through online photo diaries or photo blogs.-History:...
and communicating through MSN Messenger.
Pokemones are usually from the Chilean middle and lower class. They are frequently juxtaposed against another group, the so-called peloláis, well-to-do girls with long, straight fairer hair from private, Catholic schools.
In January 2008, Internet messages surfaced urging violence against Pokemones (mainly because of borrowing aspects from other subcultures, such as Emo hair, hip-hop clothes, and for using the c-walk
Crip Walk
The Crip Walk, also known as the aditya, is a dance originated in the early 1970s by the Crip Gang from Compton, a suburb of Los Angeles, California by Crip gang members.-History:...
). People belonging to the subculture increasingly began to be attacked outside discos and pubs. In response, a joint anti-violence campaign called "Foundation for a Better Future" has been organized by the Chilean government and Santiago
Santiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
's main student leaders.
Further reading
- http://www.minutouno.com.ar/minutouno/nota/52020__page_2/