Countercultures What is a subculture Any group that

& Countercultures

What is a subculture? • Any group that exists within dominant, mainstream culture…a world within a world • Have a distinctive ways of looking at life or some aspect of it… Tens of thousands! – Shared ideology…values, norms, beliefs – Shared aesthetic…dress, pastimes, music, zines/blogs, etc. – Shared vernacular…specialized language

Job Jargon: Truck Driving • • • "Reefer". . . refrigerated trailer "Big Road". . Highway "Flip Flop". . . return trip "Chicken Coup". . . truck scales "Bear". . . Police "Back Door". . . Behind

Types of Subcultures p. 51 -52 • • • Vocational subcultures Recreational subcultures Ethnic subcultures Lifestyle subcultures Religious …

Purpose of sub and countercultures • • Gives people a place where they are empowered Connects likeminded people Makes invisible people visible Allows people to escape the identity they are born into • Gives people a place to construct identity

Furries

Fursonas https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=za. GFsfo. Ep. Gw Furries https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=kz. BGTAv. Kf. Pg

Otherkin • Subculture of people, primarily Internetbased, who identify in some way as other than human • Believe themselves to be mythological or legendary creatures, explaining their beliefs through reincarnation, having a nonhuman soul – Angels, demons, dragons, elves, extraterrestrials, fairies, kitsune, lycanthropes, and vampires

Bōsōzoku • “Violent running gang”; a Japanese subculture associated with motorcycle clubs and gangs. – First seen in the 1950 s as the Japanese automobile industry expanded rapidly. • Engage in dangerous or reckless driving, such as weaving in traffic, not wearing motorcycle helmets, and running red lights – composed of people under the legal adult age, (20 yrs old) – Weapons of choice: wooden swords, metal pipes and Molotov cocktails.

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Steampunk • Based on science fiction literature blended with Victorian Era culture… – Think H. G. Wells and Jules Verne – Clothing: gowns, corsets, petticoats and bustles; suits with vests, coats and spats; or militaryinspired garments.

Hipsters

LARPers • Participants physically act out their characters' actions as decided by the gamemaster – May last hours or days – May be in public or private – Most characters dress up and have alternative personas – Horror, zombie, fantasy, post apocalyptic, assassin, etc.

Trekkies

What is a counterculture? • A group who’s values and norms deviate from or are at odds with those of dominant culture: – Usually viewed as negative/dangerous, but not always (e. g. women’s lib groups in the 70 s or the Civil Rights movement of the 60 s, Mormon…) – Hippies, KKK, early punk, Satanists, Hells Angels/Pagans, Anarchists, Cults

Why do people join countercultures? • Members of countercultural groups are… – Usually outsiders – Alienated – Marginalized people with little power over their status in the world – Don’t fit the mold of what American cultures says is “normal”

Hippies

Punk Subculture… or counterculture? • Emerges in London and NYC in the 1970 s – Max’s Kansas City & CBGBs • Backlash against the hippy counterculture • Values: nihilistic, rejected materialism, antiestablishment

Motorcycle Enthusiast vs. Hells Angel

KKK