Subculture

In sociology, a subculture is a set of people with distinct behavior and beliefs within a larger culture. The essence of a subculture, that distinguishes it from a mere social grouping, is awareness of style and differences in style, in clothing, music or other phenomena.

A culture often contains numerous subcultures. Subcultures incorporate large parts of their mother cultures, but in specific instances they may differ radically. Some subcultures achieve such a status that they acquire a name of their own.

Examples include:

• Fandom
  • Furry fandom
• Expatriates
• Religious subcultures
  • purported cults
• Bohemianism
• New Age culture
• Youth movements, frequently associated with a musical style, such as
  • Mods and Rockers
  • the Teds
  • Skinheads
  • Punk
  • Disco
  • Straight Edge
  • Hip-hop
  • the Hippies
  • Rap
  • Grungies
  • Goths
• Sexual subcultures such as
  • Queer culture
  • BDSM subculture
  • Swinging
  • Fetish subculture
• "Outsider" subcultures such as
  • the body modification and tattoo subcultures
  • Biker gangs such as the Hell's Angels
  • the so-called "vampire" subculture
• Illegal drug subcultures
• Criminal subcultures, such as pickpockets and thieves

Subcultures often have their own slang and jargon, see polari and argot.

References

• Dick Hebidge: Subculture: The Meaning of Style (Routledge, March 10, 1981; softcover ISBN 0415039495)

See also

• lifestyle
• popular culture

Fiction: in the movie The Outsiders there are the Socs (rich teenagers) and Greasers (poor ones), named after the grease in their hair. In Grease (musical) and the song 4th Of July, Asbury Park (Sandy) the same term is used.

Referenced By