Dual Existences

Ocean Push Poster
by Kultur

​Many people have daily activities in which they have little or no control. This typically being work, college, university, and school for younger people, often boundaries within such environments are rigid and set by authoritarian figures. Also, the routines and activities within the environments are structured according to a protocol outside the jurisdiction of the individual. The regulations and expectations fit like a yoke over each member, and it is expected to become comfortable after some time.


The alternative scene movements and subcultures that revolve around them tend to agree in principle with a shared dislike of the inhumane elements within the conformist societal institutions, such as work or school. There is a common animosity towards what is considered to be the “rat race”, and the nine to five attitude that so many people are forced to endure. This doesn't mean they don't take part, much to the contrary, many alternative scene representatives hold down jobs. It costs money to keep up with the scene, to go to the venues, to travel to the shows, to buy the correct attire.


People who don't have jobs fall into a category of their own and unless they find themselves in receipt of generous benefits, can't enjoy the perks of being part of a society. The dislike of work and the philosophies that negate the necessity for working a certain way or for certain reasons can extend into a moral choice to avoid work all together. Some people prefer to not be a part of the system at all. However, when money is not freely flowing, there is no control over one's own circumstances.


Partly a reward for conforming to a societal norm such as work is the fact that employees take home their pay which entitles them to take part in and buy clothing for alternative scene subcultures. In the way that the pressure of similarity is adopted in the week, at the weekend the element of self expression is released from its shackles and for a couple of days the individual is permitted to be who-ever they want to be.


The simulacra within the subcultures will provide inspiration and ideas for the masses who go with the given trends. Role models and cult heroes play their role in defining what is done, what is the look, and what is the viewpoint, and in general people gravitate towards the individual icons who resonate with them the most. There is an element of influence, wherein if an individual has not formed an opinion on a particular subject, when given an opinion by someone they associate a likeness with, they are much more likely to accept it without giving it their own personal thought.


Many subcultural media platforms make it their angle to discuss regularly the downsides and pitfalls of modern work, and they make a point to openly debate the effects of globalisation and standardisation across work environments. Progress has to push against something and it does appear that many alternative media sources like to provide that thing to push against and will actively seek out any possible angle that can interfere with the mainstream societal trends. This is perhaps a useful aspect to society as a whole, much in the way scientists are continuously disproving themselves, the only way the right answer is found is by crossing off all the wrong ones.


Finding common ground in the dislike of the weekly activities helps subcultural groups to form, however there is more than this element. It is more apparent in the reverse, where as when people are taking part in their weekly lives, being a part of general society and restricting their inner wants and desires in order to do so, the thought of the scene keeps them motivated. By having an escape, a new reality outside of the monotonous processes required in order to pay the bills, a mindfulness of it can perhaps act as a therapeutic resource when faced with something unpleasant. Like a psychological coping mechanism, being part of a scene gives one a purpose and a sense of self that is otherwise dictated to us by who ever pays the wages.