The master's thesis deals with hitchhikers to whom hitchhiking represents a way of life and it focuses on their view and understanding of today's world. The emphasis is on their relationship to the dominant culture and its features (from the point of security, safety, alienation, consumerism), which set the framework for the daily life of the Western world. The work is based on theoretical framework of subculture, their relationship to the dominant culture, characteristics of the culture of fear and its impact on interpersonal relationships, globalization, individualization, community (change), consumerism and orientation towards being/having and it represent the characteristics of the mainstream of Western cultures. The history of hitchhiking and its characteristics are also presented. The purpose of empirical part is to examine how hitchhiking as an alternative way of life can give some answers to aforementioned concepts, what their solutions and views are, but mostly to present their voice that isn’t heard in today’s society. The data are qualitatively analysed and include 14 hitchhikers from different countries, that share their critical view on societal understanding of risk, security, strangers, individualism, and consumption. At the same time, with the characteristics of hitchhiking and the qualities of the hitchhiking community, they offer a different understanding of relationships based on a general trust in humanity. The research presents new insights into alternative ways of solving socially created challenges and shows how to go beyond the normative framework of the present time or how can hitchhikers with their way of life represent a counterpoise to the mainstream of society.
|
