A jaunty stroll through any comic expo will quickly turn into a delirious stagger if unprepared. Rather odd questions will run through the mind of this first-time expo goer, questions like, “Why is that girl in full body paint?” and “Is that guy walking around with the broadsword from Conan the Barbarian?” Believe it or not, these questions are fairly commonplace for a first-timer. In fact, they are more than regular, and the more outlandish the costume, body paint, sword and shield, the better. And that’s the point of it. Those outlandish folk that wear and wield are a very small part of a larger culture, what is commonly called a subculture, and they are there to stand out.

Probably the best definition out there for the term subcultures is delivered by David Riesman. Back in 1950, he said that those belonging to a subculture “actively sought a minority style”[1]. His statement has stood the test of time and has remained true over the sixty years since he made the comment. However, his insight comes with one caveat: subcultures are not solely about style.

Instead, subcultures are more about expressing a minority interest. While these modes of expression are often related to clothing and, in the case of any comic expo anywhere, full-on body paint, subcultures can consist of any random group that deviates from what is coined “normal” by the larger culture. Some subcultures that do not differentiate themselves from the greater culture via physical appearance include Alcoholics Anonymous, Hackers, and even LGBT communities. Manga artists, comic book fans, and fandom writers and followers are all members of their own subculture. To say the least, they are a diverse lot.

In many ways, subcultures pay homage to art and the arts community. Music groups and DJs use samplers to create unique pieces of music out of already published pieces. Artists create fan art as a tribute to their favourite piece of fiction. Furries identify with the animal world and assign an animal spirit to themselves in order to compliment a particular personality or quality. In all of these subcultures, the goal is to steer clear of the greater culture and explore what value can be grasped out of being different.

So it makes sense there is no better place to be different than a comic expo. Actors who played famous roles in science fiction films (a subculture in itself) are championed as the heroes of the day. Emulators of these actors are hailed as gods. Cosplayers stroll about, unconcerned that they aren’t wearing any pants and have their purple wigs on sideways. In essence, an expo is a treasure trove of subcultures. The only problem is that there is no hope of ever cataloging all of them, or any of them for that matter, into their own neat little categories. Each person is there as a representation significant only to themselves, and is trying their best to be a subculture all on their own.

So, what is a subculture? A subculture is a minority with a specific goal. Simple as that.

[1] “Subculture.” David Riesman,  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subculture#cite_note-3