Subcultures are smaller groups within a larger culture that have their own unique styles, interests, beliefs, or traditions.
They can form around music, fashion, hobbies, gaming, sports, or social movements.
Subcultures often create a sense of belonging for people who don't fully identify with mainstream culture.
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Punk rockers, Swifties or other Music Fans
Skaters
Bikers / Revheads / Car Enthusiast
Cosplayer
LGBTQIAA+ communities
Faith based groups (e.g. Christianity, Buddhism, Islam)
Gaming communities
Horror Movie Lovers
Athletes
Horse girls
Reddit commenters
Diversity within Diversity:
Subcultures highlight that culture is made up of many layers, shaped by different groups with their own styles, values, and interests.
Belonging and Identity:
They offer spaces for people to connect with others who share similar tastes, experiences, or worldviews — especially when those interests aren’t reflected in mainstream culture.
Challenging Norms:
Subcultures can question dominant trends or values, influencing everything from fashion and music to social attitudes and public spaces.
Do these subcultures feel authentic to you? Why or why not?
How do these subcultures challenge or reshape traditional cultural norms?
Are subcultures just as important as the dominant cultural groups in shaping personal identity? Why or why not?
Activity
Fill out an identity map that shows your personal culture and influences.
Think About
Family
Background
Music you listen to
Hobbies and interests
Groups or communities you belong to
Places you feel connected to
Activity
Find a photo on your phone or social media that shows something about your culture, hobbies, family traditions, or a group you identify with.
Pair & Share
Share your photo with a partner.
Explain why you chose it.
How does your image compare to the stereotypical Australian images (beaches, sport, BBQs) we looked at earlier?
How do your experiences show the influence of subcultures?
In Your Next Assessment
You are going to create a photographic series about culture or subculture.
Plan by Reflecting
Will you focus on mainstream culture or a subculture you belong to or are interested in?
Will your photos challenge stereotypes, like Anne Zahalka’s work does?
How could your images make people think differently about Australian identity?
Activity
What parts of your identity feel “mainstream”?
What parts connect to a subculture?
How could you visually represent the real Australia — beyond stereotypes?