subculture

Subculture refers to a group within a larger society that shares distinctive norms, values, symbols, and practices that set it apart from the dominant culture. Subcultures often form around common interests, identities, or experiences and maintain separate forms of dress, language, music, and rituals.

Characteristics include distinctive styles, jargon, social networks, and rituals; shared codes of conduct; and a sense of belonging that provides identity and solidarity. Subcultures may arise in response to marginalization, social constraints, or the pursuit of alternative meanings, and they can influence mainstream culture through diffusion of styles and ideas.

Relationship to the dominant culture: subcultures are neither inherently rebellious nor uniformly oppressed; they occupy a spectrum from parallel life worlds to critiques of the mainstream. They can remain autonomous, negotiate with the dominant culture, or be co-opted and commodified by media and consumer markets.

Examples include music-oriented subcultures such as punk and hip-hop; fashion- or scene-based groups such as goths, mods, or skaters; and interest-based communities such as anime fans, gamers, or cosplay participants. Subcultures may be localized or global, and online platforms have expanded the reach and complexity of subcultural groups.

Critiques note that terms like subculture can obscure internal diversity and power dynamics, risk stereotyping, and gloss over overlap with other social identities. Studying subcultures emphasizes how collective identity is constructed through practices, symbols, and social networks.