subcultura

Subcultura refers to a group within a larger culture that shares distinctive values, norms, symbols, and practices that set it apart from the dominant culture. Members often identify through fashion, music, language, and rituals, creating a sense of belonging and collective identity.

The concept emerged in sociology and cultural studies to describe how groups formed around shared interests or conditions. Subcultures arise partly in response to social factors such as marginalization, urban life, or limited resources. They are typically bounded by selective modes of communication and shared signs, which can include slang, dress codes, and specific music tastes.

Subcultures are distinct from countercultures, which actively oppose and seek to change the dominant norms. Subcultures may challenge norms through critique or playful irreverence while remaining part of the broader society. They can influence mainstream culture by popularizing styles, jargon, or attitudes, and their impact is often felt beyond their original locality.

Examples include punk, goth, hip-hop, metal, and skate subcultures, among many regional scenes. These groups often develop unique hierarchies, forms of creativity, and social rituals such as concerts, gatherings, or online communities. The evolution of subcultures is shaped by media, globalization, and digital communication, which enable rapid diffusion and hybridization of styles and practices.

In theory, subcultures have been analyzed by scholars such as Dick Hebdige, who emphasized the role of style in meaning-making, and Stanley Cohen, who examined how subcultures are subjected to moral panics. The term is used across sociology, anthropology, and cultural studies to describe diversity within cultures and the processes by which group identity is formed.