What are gaseri?

Gaser is a word that refers to a member (oftentimes male) of an urban subculture that has emerged in the streets of the Western Balkans in the early 2010s. The name comes from the Slavic phrase “ide gas” which directly translated means – the gas is going, but its real meaning is to start a party or to show off. Its popularity in Skopje is at an all time high with places like Debar Maalo and Taftalidze being a hotspot for its members. More and more high school and elementary school students are attracted to the wealth and glamour being showcased by popular figures in the space. Many might think that gaseri are a new presence in the streets of Skopje, but in truth this isn’t anything new in both Macedonia and the Balkans as a whole, being mostly a re-imagining of a few older subcultures.

What are their defining traits?

They follow mostly right–leaning, patriarchal ideals, with a tinge of patriotic beliefs. They’re often compared to, or are themselves, football ultras. Their appearance and presentation reflect these beliefs with short hairstyles and all black or white outfits. The music in the scene is also a point of contention among other groups, with trap and turbofolk being considered as of poor quality because of cultural associations.

A large part of the gaser identity is based on perceived luxury, mainly through branded clothing. These include things like shoulder bags, Nike Air Force sneakers, Hugo Boss and Armani Exchange shirts and hats, flashy watches, Napapijri jackets and the absolute fan favorite – ripped skinny jeans. Those who are keen eyed will immediately notice something strange about all this apparel – none of it is actually high end. Hugo and Armani Exchange are both cheaper and lower quality versions of the Boss and Armani brands. Oftentimes the clothes are replications and knockoffs bought for a cheaper price or are traded from one person to another. The flexing only serves as a way to bolster the confidence of those doing it. Even in a subculture that prides itself with the idea of luxury, the same problems observed across most of the Balkans are still present – most people can’t really climb past the middle class economically and socially.

Comparisons to other older subcultures

The absolute closest subculture to today’s gaseri are the dizelashi that appeared in 1990s Serbia. Both groups are filled with young people who idolize either money or power, shown mainly through demeanor and clothing. Both groups listen to similar music, mainly turbofolk, and share a few similar ideas. The main difference is in the fact that dizelashi were more dangerous and rowdy leading towards their extremely negative perception in the eyes of most regular people.

Most people from older generations might be confused by the term gaser at first. Many of them might associate it with another similar term, greaser which is also a word that describes a member of a subculture which dates back to even the 1950s and 60s. There are a lot of similarities between the two. Both subcultures come from niche countercultures (bikers and thugs) and are mostly popular among middle class youth. They don’t really follow any concrete rules, mainly following general trends. The difference between the modern gaseri and the ancient greasers is that the greasers were originally formed as a protest of the capitalistic post-war economy which was pushing a sterile and homogeneous popular culture, while gaseri are basically the embodiment of a new homogeneous culture.

Is this a positive subculture?

While it has its merits, there are a lot of negative aspects. Most of the group’s ideals are quite naive and a large number of its members don’t really care about any sort of societal change and eventually grow out of this mindset. Both the style and most of the music that has come out of the culture is often described as kitsch by other communities. It’s a subculture that preaches about money and status, promising that contentment will come from excessive partying and spending. But, not all of it is negative – it works around the strict systems and expectations in today’s society, showing that a carefree attitude could actually benefit the world in some way. One of the core tenets of most gaseri is that they should enjoy their youth while they have it, that obsessing over trivial things while they still don’t have any real responsibilities is actually a good thing. Gaseri are actually somewhat similar to some alternative subcultures, both representing their respective beliefs in a somewhat mild way and going against the “old ways” while not becoming radical or outright political, still mainly existing within the boundaries of what is accepted in society. In conclusion – while there are good and positive ideas in the gaser mindset, the subculture also brings in a lot of harmful ideas that can have a very negative effect in the development of the younger generations that participate.

Kalin Hadji-Zafirov

Sources:
Gaser (Serbia and the Western Balkans) – Global Informality Project
Greaser (subculture) – Wikipedia
Greaser | Style, The Outsiders, Meaning, Definition, Subculture, Outfit, Hair, & Facts | Britannica
Не можеш да си „гасер“ без патики од 300 евра, ни „паркаш“ без да локаш ко луд – Новите поделби меѓу младите носат дискриминација и неморал
Dizelaši — Википедија
The Peculiar Yet Unifying World Of Turbofolk
Znate li što su gaseri i što znači REŠIII? Pitajte sina ili pročitajte članak – Index.hr
VIDIMO SE U CITULJI, Dokumentarni Film O Srpskoj Mafij