The first section of this article is about the abstract notion of scene in arts and scene as in a cultural space. For other meanings, see Scene (disambiguation).

In theatre and literature, a scene is a self-contained episode within a larger work.

Due to the ability to edit, in recorded visual works such as TV and movies, a scene has the same basic definition, but is typically much shorter. Basically, it refers to a part of the action in a single location.

1. "Scene" is also used synonymously with subculture, particularly in reference to social groups based on music, fashion, or other types of hobbies.

Examples: "The punk rock scene is very visible in LA"; "Those kids look like they are way into the gaming scene."

2. Occasionally the word "scene" refers to a specific youth subculture noted for its elitism, taste for indie rock and obscure, experimental music genres as well as a distinct, impeccable fashion sense. Although closely related to emo, the scene is more worldly in music appreciation, more exclusive, and pays more for clothes. The scene is similar to the emo and straight-edge movements in personal style, but it can nevertheless be clearly distinguished as its own movement.

An affiliate of the scene is known as a scenester, which is similar to a hipster except more modern.

Many scenesters characterize themselves as such with: a-line haircuts, hair dyed black or partly black and partly bleached, tight clothing, thrift store accessories, Existentialist literature, thick-rimmed glasses and/or huge sunglasses, deliberate and calculated geekiness, membership to social networking web clients such as Friendster, interest in '80s pop culture, frequenting local shows, chain-smoking, a left-wing political slant, and (add yours here).

The scene even has its own vocabulary to separate it from other subcultures; for instance, the term "scene points" refers to an imaginary system in which one is awarded points for every aspect of character that conforms to the stereotype of the scene.

For more information: Urban Dictionary's entry

Will Straw (1991) describes a music scene, rather than a music community, as "that cultural space in which a range of musical practices coexist, interacting with each other within a variety of processes of differentiation, and according to widely varying trajectories of change and cross-fertilization." (p.273) Rather than forming from a class, group, or community of people a scene is formed through various "coalitions" and "alliances" that must be maintained. Straw suggests that it is through scenes that social divisions such as class, race, gender, and age boundaries are drawn, rather than the other way around.

Source

• Straw, Will (1991). "Systems of Articulation, Logics of Change: Communities and Scenes in Popular Music", Cultural Studies, 5, 3, pp.368-88.