It means a way of leading life and having an attitude that is different or opposes social norms. It is a subculture whose values are different from the prevailing culture of the society. It also means to protest against a present social situation or issue and having a rebellious opinion against the way of doing things. It’s all about the liberation against marginalization or suppression.
It also means to find new ways to represent oneself when they are misunderstood or misrepresented. The creation of a new culture when one doesn’t fit into the present culture and social norms are called counterculture. A counterculture opposes or challenges the present culture prevailing in the country.
In the early 20th century, the point of view of the counterculture was brought into light by counterculture pamphlets, magazines, newsletters and newspapers. They were originally meant to meet the urgent needs and immediate actions, gather support and inspiration for change in the society. It can be meant as a movement that showcases the aspirations and ideology of a set of population.
It is sometimes conceptualized as a rejection of the older values in terms of generational conflicts. It involves criticism too. Its main aim is to hope for a better life and a better society. Successful countercultures bring social change in society.
An example of the counterculture in the United States would be during the period of 1964 to 1973. In the 1960s, Hippies became the largest counterculture group in America regarding the war in Vietnam. This culture group presented their ideas and concern to the world through the help of media. Their demonstrations regarding social justice brought many changes that affected many aspects of society. This movement contributed to equality, world peace and happiness.
