It is hard to determine which subculture is likely to become dominant in the future (or at least very popular), considering the plethora of influences and socioeconomic factors that play a role in the emergence of new subcultural forms. Moreover, no subculture is static: they all evolve and some are likely to experience a very short period of true dynamism, quickly losing steam. But there is one trend common to almost every subculture: they are increasingly confronted with the problem of “mediatization” and publicity. This struggle to resist commercialization – as was the case with the Punk movement – will constantly grow in the future. Therefore the question is: to what point will subcultures be able to resist “collaborating” with the dominant system, making them in the end, part of mass culture? As is already the case with many subcultures, their increasing acceptance and diffusion throughout “dominant” society can lead to a widespread disagreement between subgenres of the same subculture. Seeking to outrage propriety by developing alternative lifestyles will become a real challenge in the future. The following imaginary future scenario will develop the idea of two particular forms of subculture.
[...] The lucrative aspect of this specific future subculture is very significant. Indeed, the central organizers are real businessmen, managing a very prosperous parallel economy. They will structure their business in a Mafia-like network. As their goal is never to be appropriated by the dominant culture, attitudes considered as deviant and morally condemned by the dominant lifestyle will further develop as a form of rejection, opposition and contempt. Values and practices which are the least accepted in the dominant society's lifestyle will be considered noble, worthy and as such will contribute to form and characterize the “Radicals' code of conduct, rituals and principles. [...]
[...] Because our dominant culture will be in a constant search of a new identity which would underline its differences and characteristics compared to other dominant cultures around the world. Global space and the different dominant cultures existing in it will be characterized by an increasing trend towards segregation. The world will become more polarized and regionalized, each of the poles striving to affirm its difference and values compared with the others. Therefore, the dominant cultures will be more and more segregated, trying to impose their characteristics and new trends onto the other cultures. [...]
[...] The second form of subculture likely to flourish in the future will be a grosser version of the so-called “neo-primitives” whose influence will be categorically denied by its members. We shall call them the “Rooters”. It is important to note here that this subculture will divide itself into a number of different branches, each one of them referring to their culture's very own primitive societies (i.e. Latino Americans, Asians, Africans, Australians etc.). To a certain extent, their aim will partly be the same as the one proclaimed by the “Radicals”, i.e. [...]
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