A subculture is a segment of society that shares a distinctive pattern of customs, rules, and traditions that differs from the pattern of the larger society. Everyone is a member of several subcultures. These may be based on ethnicity, religion, hobbies/interests such as skateboarding, anime, musical genres, sports you play or follow, etc.
Today you will be my tour guide and help me understand what I need to know to blend in with your subculture. Be aware that culture is shared, so it is meaningless and inaccurate to state that you are a subculture of one person. If you do this, you will receive a failing grade on this assignment. Instead, you must talk about your interactions with other people who are in the same group. For example, I am vegetarian, but if I talk about my personal diet, that is insufficient; instead, I need to talk about vegetarian groups I am a member of on social media and how they interact, or how my vegetarian friends act in our group, etc.
The minimum word count is 1000 words. Do not let the briefness of this paper fool you: each section should contain one or more well-constructed paragraphs. To earn the maximum points, it should have a good deal of analysis. You may attach pictures with descriptions if you like.
Tell me about your subculture. How long have you been a member? Why did you join this subculture? What’s the best thing about it? Is there anything you don’t like about it?
Subcultures have physical artifacts that are part of their material culture. What objects do people need to own to fit in as part of your subculture? What are ways that a person could visibly recognize a member of your subculture? What should group members wear? Are there any specific brands, or is there a certain quality of material for elevated status in your subculture? Are there any other modifications to appearance that are necessary to fit in?
What are some of the values members of your subculture share? (Values are things that group members think are good, desirable, beautiful, etc.)
What is the argot of this group? An argot is a specific vocabulary or jargon for a subculture. How can people sound like a member of your subculture? Are there specific words/ acronyms/ phrases they should use, or avoid?
Who should people look out for in your culture and “know” – what are the behaviors that make someone stand out in a good way in your culture? What makes them a leader? Are there types of people to stay away from or not follow their behavior? Why?
Is there anything else that would help a newcomer blend in and fit in?
Sample Solution