Subcultures - Rough Draft

I returned to my house stumbling and shirtless at 3:30 in the morning. I was already feeling the affects of the hangover soon to come. I was not worried about my sweaty hair or my dirt streaked jean shorts. My elbows were cut, my face was scraped, and my bones were bruised. I was still a little high, my head was ringing, and I could easily spot the bits of vomit on my mud-caked Nikes. I reached into my pocket and pulled out seventy dollars less than I began the day with along with a ticket for a disorderly conduct that conveniently ended in an out of state fee of 400 dollars. I popped a few Aspirin, brushed my teeth, layed down on my bed and imagined myself back in the middle of the mosh pit. The concert kicked my ass, and I loved every minute of it.

A subculture is a unified group that is distinguished from the norm through the behaviors of its members, values of the group, or certain group outlines or patterns. Today one can come across a number of subcultures in the college or high school environment. There are the jocks, emo kids, skaters, religious groups, rednecks, ravers, hippies and the in-crowd (popular or beautiful people). The list is never ending and although subcultures play a huge position in defining our personalities, many people do not even acknowledge their role in a subculture because it is somewhat of a conformist term. Still, many people are involved in groups that by definition are true subcultures. Something as trite as being a vegetarian or going bald can easily be a subculture. Nearly everybody has at some point crossed paths with a group whose norms, values, mores or traditions make them unique and regardless of whether or not it is openly described or viewed as a subculture, even the most miniscule of these kind of groups can hold this title. I have come across many different subcultures but the one that has effected me most profoundly is the concert atmosphere(rock and metal).

Personally, I have been involved in quite a few different subcultures including the “in-crowd”, “partiers” and “art-lovers.” I have maintained my involvement in these types of crowds but over the years I have immersed myself in the dominant subculture of the rock concert atmosphere. I use the word “rock” because it interprets a broad range of music: classic rock, alternative, punk, mainstream, and heavy-metal. Even as a youngster although I had only been to one concert (Weird Al Yankovic), I dreamt of crowd surfing through a mosh pit at a Metallica concert. Ever since my first “true” concert experience three years ago, I have come to truly admire the crowd that this atmosphere draws, the freedom it reveres, and the bands that make it all possible. Music has always calmed my nerves and given me a sense of freedom but just listening to a cd can no longer satisfy my passion.

The concert atmosphere is not a place for people who are afraid to express themselves. In fact, made popular by early rock concerts such as Woodstock and Ozzfest, self-expression is imperative for a concert is the main component of these events. Woodstock of coarse was in response to the ongoing conflicts in Vietnam. The crowd that was drawn was mostly the hippie crowd who were anti-war activists. Artists such as Richie Haven, Jimi Hendrix, the Who, and Janis Joplin all made their “poetry” in protest of the war. Of coarse there was support for our troops but the event itself was an attempt to counter all of the death, destruction, pain and heartache with the exuberances of peace, beauty, freedom and love. This ever-growing group of “lovers” used marijuana and acid-induced highs to feel exercise their freedom and speak out against violence. These people were criticized and belittled for their ways but the subculture itself was created from the inspiration of a long line of singers and artists who relied on drugs to “escape” reality and the ever-decaying world around them.

In order to blend with the crowd in the rock atmosphere, one must understand that even today, most bands are speaking out in efforts to argue against our own government. Extremely successful bands such as System of a Down, Disturbed, Tool, and Rage Against the Machine are to this day protesting the war and they aim to expose corrupt governments, police forces, the FCC, and other government institutions. Because of the purpose of many of these bands, there quite are a large number of anarchists that attend the events. Still, even people who are not totally against government but instead those who feel demeaned by Uncle Sam use these concerts as a way to fight back and preserve our freedom of speech, life, and our ability to rise against authority. These people want to believe that the America can resist rapid change (anarchy/chaos), by speaking out against corrupt government policy and decisions. To make a long, complicated story short, it is not always just people lining up to do drugs, drink and hear loud music; there are those chosen few who are there to aid the ongoing rise against the corrupt world around them.

There are also groups of people who do follow concerts just because of their love for music, and the freedom to break the law. Some people are attracted by the large amount of freedom and the little amount of authority found at these events. Most people come dressed in ripped jeans, dark band t-shirts, piercing, and tattoos. Concerts have the unique ability of pulling together many subcultures and combining them into one. A rock concert is the only place that you can find preppies, emo kids, punk rockers, druggies, hippies and even rednecks. Even though there are constantly fights breaking out (you have to pay attention to where you are moshing and who isn’t a part of the “pit”), it is quite an easy place to blend no matter what your culture may be. People are not discriminatory of your beliefs, attitudes and values; as long as you are there to rock, you will find no problems with those around you. The rock atmosphere draws the crazed, drug- stimulated youth that live for the moment to show that they are not afraid to rise against authority and live a life of endless freedoms.

Not all people that attend these events are “Godless”; I myself have attended nearly 10 concerts and I am a Christian. However the majority of the people in this subculture are worried about seizing the day and having a good time while they can. These people are not questioning the afterlife; they are not considering anything other than the carefree life that they obtain. The rock atmosphere can make a person feel ten years younger. I am only nineteen but the mosh pit made me feel similar to how I did as a kid jumping on the bed or the trampoline. It is this vigor of youth that the concert atmosphere preserves so well and that is why the age range is so wide. There are teenagers that try to feel older and live the true “rock life,” and there are middle-aged people that want to scream, mosh, and maintain and let loose their inner child. This wide range of age is a clear indicator behind the fact that there is little discrimination and much tolerance and acceptance.

Music itself is surely a subculture. It seems that we listen to music on the way to work and school; sometimes during both; and very much in our free time as well. It is the mellow run of rhythm and creative flow of melody that can enliven our moods and brighten our spirit. There’s nothing like turning on the radio and hearing your favorite song or tuning in your ipod to just the right tune for the moment. However, in my opinion, it is nearly impossible to match the sheer vivacity and unmatchable feeling that you get from hearing your favorite music live. The words do not change, nor do the melodies; it is the utter essence of the live music that consumes us and sends chills down our spine. Not only can you hear the music, one can almost literally feel the emotion and love of the song. Our sprits elevate, and our worries of life are demolished away by the rhythmic vibes and sheer spirit of the sounds.

We enter the concert with the weight of our dreary lives on our back but we leave fulfilled and we feel the presence of Carpe Diem creep up our backs. One may think to themselves; what could have made this day any better? An easy analogy is this: Consider the entire subculture of music along with all of its mores, folkways, beliefs, traditions and values. Now think of it as an orange and consider that the concert experience is the juicer for music. One cannot see the root of the subculture of music come full swing until they have drank the juice. As far as I’m concerned, there is no other way to obtain such a great satisfaction than go and witness it firsthand.

So, all in all, in a roundabout way, the music subculture and the concert atmosphere can be easily blended into a single unit. Some people enjoy being alone while listening to their favorite music but I love being around others who love it for the same reasons I do. It is not just merely an event to promote drugs, violence and deviant behaviors; concerts are a sanctuary for all types of people (many of whom would normally not be associated with one another). Concerts tend to unite us into a single unit whose sole purpose is to enjoy the essence of being free and this freedom comes absent of the disapproval or nonconsensual attitudes of others. In the concert subculture, there is zero tolerance for intolerance; and freedom is a virtue that is pressed to its very limits. It is possibly the most diverse subculture of its kind, because of its extraordinary ability to merge so many differing subcultures into one place at one time. There is no room for discrimination, especially based on a person's looks but there is plenty of room to rock out all night.