Post 3: The Different Types of Subculture in Today's Society

There are many subcultures nowadays - ones that are well established in society and referred to often. However there are still some subcultures that are 'underground' - ones that truly are outside the mainstream.

The range of subcultures and of known subcultures has grown substantially throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. 

Some of the most well known subcultures include:

• Punk
• Goth
• Grunge
• Emo
• Hipster
• Hippie
• Straight Edge

However, there are also a number of other subcultures that originated more recently, due to modern TV shows, literature or internet 'fandoms'. These are more obscure with less members. Here are some recently developed subcultures:

• Cosplayers
• Otaku
• Otherkin

Two of the above subcultures have their main roots in Japan - Otaku and Cosplay, as both are based around a form of Japanese entertainment, called anime. These subcultures, especially Cosplay, have gotten more and more recognition in the Western world recently - there are even conventions and meet-ups for members of these subcultures.

The Otherkin subculture is again more obscure. Otherkin are a portion of the population that believe that they are not entirely human. This is an umbrella subculture, meaning that there are many smaller subcultures within it, such as people who believe they are vampires, or people who believe that they have supernatural powers.

Grunge style, made popular in the 1990s. This style is coming back into fashion, especially on runways.

Emo subculture hairstyle and makeup.

This is an example of the Deathrock style, a darker version of Punk.

Punk subculture - note the hair and the customised denim jackets.

Cosplayers dressing up as two characters from The Nightmare Before Christmas, a movie by Tim Burton.

Different branches of the subculture of Otherkin; there are not many pictures of Otherkin on the internet because it is a relatively new subculture.

Sources: http://www.otherkin.net/index.html, http://usmodernculture.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_subcultures

http://fashiongrunge.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/forever-grunge-1.jpeg

http://cdn2.stylecraze.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Emo-Hairstyles.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qphVKRs_EP8/TQC3kxdZKAI/AAAAAAAAAIw/2as57UGyd_I/s1600/Deathrocker+3.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qx0fnIQGg1A/UQQMjDFasMI/AAAAAAAAARo/eSDMV-ORFWE/s1600/punks-cultura-punk-bw-branco-e-preto-black-and-white-Favim.com-545943.jpg

http://th07.deviantart.net/fs70/PRE/f/2012/269/3/3/jack_skellington_cosplay_by_kaiser_mony-d47t9o5.png

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l150/OrthaeVelve/Sigils%20and%20Symbols%20I%20designed/otherkinsigils.jpg

Post 2: The History of Subcultures

Music genres are often associated with subcultures. Subcultures are prevalent mainly among teenagers and adolescents, although some subcultures have participants that are adults - this varies from subculture to subculture. In today's society, there are more widely-known subcultures than ever before. This is partly because of the influence of modern media and modern societal expectations on today's generation.

Modern media is very easily accessible and influences people from a young age, with them either deciding that they want to attempt to live up to what is projected as 'ideal', or deciding that they would rather disregard that 'ideal' completely and go their own way - hence joining a subculture.

Most subcultures have a few older, key figures that are well respected or famous within the subculture itself (and maybe outside of it).

Subcultures first featured in sociological and anthropological writing in 1945. Subcultures in the twentieth century have mainly been shaped by world events and popular culture of the time - for instance, certain subcultures came into being after both of the World Wars while certain other subcultures came into being because of a famous icon in popular mainstream culture - Elvis, for example, inspired the 'greaser' culture.

For a subculture to exist a culture must exist first - there could be nothing 'alternative' if nothing was 'mainstream' or 'normal'.

Sources: http://www.jahsonic.com/SubcultureHistory.html

Introduction

My name is Ella and this is my Transition Year Blog on subcultures.

Post 1: The Geography of Subcultures

A 'subculture' is defined on Merriam-Webster's site as "a group that has beliefs and behaviours that are different from the main groups within a culture or society." 'Subculture' as a term is a blanket. A subculture can be:

• a group that has a different ethnicity than the main part of the population in a place
• a group that is different economically from others i.e. financially less well off
• a group that is regionally distinctive - like different tribes within an area
• a group that is socially different from the mainstream ideals of an area's culture

The term subculture is mainly used nowadays when referring to a group that is socially different from the others in its area - the 'outcasts', if you will. As you can gather, subcultures have been around for a long time, much longer than people would think.

It was first coined as a term in 1945 when used in anthropological and sociological writing. However, the meaning for which we commonly use the term was only made popular in the 1970s, using it to describe a smaller group in society's fashion, music and overall culture.

This blog will mainly be focusing on the socially different subcultures in today's society - in both the developed and the developing worlds. 

Source: http://www.artandpopularculture.com/Subculture