SUBCULTURES AND
COUNTERCULTURES
What are they and what do they do?
By Samuel H
and Jared M
WHAT IS A SUBCULTURE?
A subculture is a number of groups
within a culture.
They usually have their own unique
characteristics, values and norms.
With these they still operate as a
part of the larger culture.
EXAMPLES OF SUBCULTURES
Car- enthusiasts: People who like
certain cars and their parts.
Sneaker-heads: People who love
either a certain kind of shoe or love
all shoes.
Wrestlers: A Subculture of the “Jock”
subculture.
STAR TREK FANS
WHAT IS A COUNTERCULTURE?
A counterculture can also be a
number of groups that reject certain
values, norms, and mores of the
larger culture in which they live.
Countercultures often end up
operating against the larger culture.
EXAMPLES OF COUNTERCULTURES
 The Ku Klux Klan or the KKK : Currently classified hate group
that promotes white supremacy
 Neo-Nazism: Post WWII social movement seeking to revive
Nazism
 Hippies: A movement of “Free love” and regular use of
recreational drugs in the 1960’s and 1970’s.
HIPPIE
DIFFERENCES
 Usually subcultures are law abiding citizens that may not
agree with some laws or social rules.
 Despite this, most subcultures are looked at in a positive
light.
 While Countercultures do not agree with most of society and
may go to such extremes as hurting others and breaking laws
and social rules.
 Most countercultures are looked upon in a negative way.
WORKS CITED
 Thomas, W. (2005). Holt sociology: The study of human
relationships. Austin, TX: Holt, Rinehart and Winston .
 Neo-Nazism. (2014, October 13). Retrieved October 13, 2014,
from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neo -Nazism (Last accessed
10/11/14)