To the average layman, the term "counterculture" may seem abrupt, disruptive, and perhaps even intrusive - as if it were 'a term invented to explain "going against" a certain societal concept. However, like any well-oiled machine, counterculture is not entirely negative and is essential to the healthy development of society as a whole, whether it is challenging existing norms or raising awareness of 'a certain problem that has been buried beneath the mainstream. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”? Get the original essay Counterculture is a radical form of subculture. Countercultures are movements meant to inspire social change for the worse or for the better. Where the primary purpose of countercultures is to oppose their dominant cultures, subcultures, by nature, are not at odds with them. A subculture can have its own principles. Examples of subcultures would be Goths and Emos (Emotional Hardcore). They both come from the same main culture which would be punk rock music culture. However, where they differ is in their habits and practices. When it comes to their musical preferences, Emos have stayed true to their roots while Goths have gravitated towards electronic music. When it comes to personalities, they are both generally associated with moods associated with the unpleasant aspects of life like depression and darkness. The main difference between the two subcultures would be their fashion sense. For Goths, it would be head-to-toe black while Emos would always be willing to wear colorful clothing if it floats their boat. To summarize, if Goths and Emos have different beliefs, practices and habits, they do not contrast with their main culture which would be punk rock musical culture. They would be able to forge an identity within the culture. Countercultures, on the other hand, are fundamentally different from subcultures. Countercultures arise for one reason and one reason only: to challenge existing dominant cultures or some aspect of them. They are made up of people who are equally committed to certain issues and who come together to challenge them and find a way to characterize themselves and fit into a society where they feel poorly represented. The most important countercultures would be the Beat Generation and the hippie movement. . The Beats Generation arose in the 1940s after World War II and lasted throughout the 1950s, which then paved the way for the hippie movement in the early 1960s. They aimed to reject mainstream American culture with their their shared ideals, beliefs and fashion sense. They promoted peace and harmonious living with their motto “make love, not war”. They adapt to cultural rules and regulations with their recreational drug use and open sexual relationships. Other examples would be Romanticism, or the Romantic Era, born in the Age of Enlightenment, where people placed more emphasis on the emotions rather than the intellect. The motivation behind this company was to draw attention to the value of imagination and creativity when the rest of the world relied more on logic and facts. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. .Get a Custom EssayUltimately, the unacceptability of countercultures is fleeting. Ultimately, their methods..