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Splintering Culture
I've often found it interesting that a fairly homogenous culture can splinter into so many groups. Walking downtown you see the bulk of people, fairly plain vanilla shop keeps, people with their children, guys walking their dogs. However you also see the skater boys, the ball caps, the would be homeys and the occasional goth. I've often wondered what causes people to break off into these subcultures, and why it doesn't happen more often.
To look at me, I seem pretty white bread, middle class. I'd like to think that I'm not entirely mainstream, but I'll admit that sometimes I do catch myself enjoying pop music. I like to believe that I am a student of human nature. That I am an unbiased and objective observer of the cultures, sub and otherwise, around me.
I see a guy with a Mohawk, a NIN shirt and black pants and I wonder what he's thinking. Is it because his parents were too strict, not strict enough. Is it a statement against the high school authoritarians, or is it purely for himself. Does he truly enjoy wearing all black and needing to spend an hour a day on his hair? If so, more power to him, but I have to wonder what goes on in his head.

Learn more about this author, Sean Murphy.
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