DEFINITION OF SUBCULTURE

A subculture is a set of people with distinct sets of behavior and beliefs that differentiate them from a larger culture of which they are a part. The subculture may be distinctive because of the age of its members, or by their race, ethnicity, class and/or gender, and the qualities that determine a subculture as dis tinct may be aesthetic, religious, occupational, political, sexual or a combination of these factors. Different from the majority, "which passively accepted commercially provided styles and meanings, and a 'subculture' which actively sought a minority styl e. In other words, subcultures are groups of individuals who, through a variety of methods, present themselves in opposition to the mainstream trends of their culture. If the subculture is characterized by a systematic opposition to the dominant culture, t hen it may be described as a counterculture.

EXAMPLES OF SUBCULTURE Punks Stoners Goths Jocks Preps Bisexuals Puritans Cults Clans

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DEFINITION OF HIGH CULTURE

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High culture is a term referring to the "best of breed" (from some elitist viewpoint) cultural products. What falls in this category is defined by the most powerful sections of society, i.e. its social, political, economic and intellectual elite.

For example opera is considered high culture.

DEFINITION OF POPULAR CULTURE

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contemporary lifestyle and items that are well known and generally accepted, cultural patterns that are widespread within a population; also called pop culture.