Alternative Culture
Alternative culture had existed for many years before Nirvana broke into the mainstream with their second album Nevermind in 1991. However, it was not until then that alternative culture was even acknowledged let alone taken seriously and even then it was considered as a commodity. The terms "fringe culture" and "The Alternative Nation" are also sometimes used by the media.
Even though by its very definition alternative culture could mean practically anything, it is generally perceived by the public at large to be something very specific. With the breakthrough of Grunge music, the media christened the alternative audience Generation X. Grunge, punk rock and indie rock are all forms of music commonly refered to by the catch all term of alternative rock and Lollapalooza, put together by Perry Farrell, is recognized as the first true alternative music festival. The festival was later satirized in popular US animated show The Simpsons.
Sports commonly associated with alternative culture include skateboarding and rollerblading. An annual competition called the Summer X Games showcases these these sports as well asmountain biking and street luge. There is also a winter version featuring snowboarding and skiing among other alternative sports. Wrestling is also associated closely with alternative culture. This is most evident in the former Extreme Championship Wrestling wrestler Raven (Real Name:Scott Levy), who dressed in the stereotypical grunge fashion.
TV shows and movies associated with the alternative culture include The Simpsons, South Park, Jackass, Cheech & Chong's Up In Smoke and The Breakfast Club. In fact, Ally Sheedy's character in The Breakfast Club could be viewed as an early incarnation of Generation X. Horror movies have been widely accepted into alternative culture, as like rock music, they are generally considered trashy by art critics. These shows and movies share little in common apart from their fanbase and a generally liberal political stance.
Some shows have featured characters baring trademarks of the alternative culture. The best examples would have to be Darlene Connor (played by Sara Gilbert in Roseanne),Otto (The Simpsons) and Ginger (Ginger Snaps). These examples managed to rise above the Gen X stereotype, a good example of which can be be found in the The Simpsons episode "Homerpalooza".
Authors and poets closely associated with alternative culture include J.G. Ballard, J.D. Salinger, Sylvia Plath, Jack Kerouac, William Burroughs, Bret Easton Ellis, Allen Ginsberg and political writer Noam Chomsky. Most of these writers were of a different generation to the alternative kids who picked up on bands like Nirvana, but some alternative bands declared themselves fans of these writers and subsequently turned a large number of people onto them who, in all probability, would never have thought to read those books themselves.
As well as these books, certain comic books and graphic novels are generally excepted into alternative culture. They are generally darker, more gothic in tone than the more famous superhero comics and are more interested in the idea of the anti-hero. The most famous examples are 2000 A.D., Spawn and The Crow.
Most, if not all, alternatives are politically very left wing and liberal. They are generally tolerant of all groups of people as oppossed to the homophobic, misogynistic and racist views of the stereotypical jock. Personal codes of belief associated with alternative culture include straight edge, vegetarianism, and pro-choice, though these are not compulsory and are often lifestyle choices made on a moral basis rather than a communal or social one. Alternatives have no particular religious affiliation, but a large number are atheists.
Other parts of alternative culture are largely ignored by the media, mainly because of their dark, gothic nature. Among them are snuff films (most famous of which is the Faces Of Death series) as well as an interest in serial killers, suicide, mental disorders and diseases, conspiracy theories and self-mutilation. An interest in these particular areas is no indication that the individual will be more likely to actually get involved in these activities. These elements of alternative culture are more specialist interests among a minority of the community as opposed to the wider appeal of the music and fashion.
Most of these darker elements were acknowledged by the alternative bands throughout the 1980s and early to mid 1990s, with alternative icons like Kurt Cobain and Eddie Vedder writing lyrics about suicide and disease as well as Layne Staley's lyrics about heroin addiction. Nirvana's third studio album, In Utero, is a good example of this area of alternative culture. Most, if not all, of the songs refer to suicide, disease, mental disorders, rape, abortion and bodily functions. Also worthy of note is Pearl Jam's third album Vitalogy. The title is a reference to a Victorian medical book singer Eddie Vedder had read and the packaging was designed to resemble the book, cointaining pages referring to the Victorian attitude to masturbation and various diseases.
After the demise of most of the original grunge bands, later grunge bands such as Puddle Of Mudd and Nickle Back played a watered down, radio friendly take on grunge often referred to as pop grunge or grunge lite. They disposed of many of the darker, more uncommercial lyrical concerns of the original grunge bands as well being more willing to play ball with the corporate record labels that released their records. Most of the bands in the Nu Metal movement of the late '90s also held these beliefs, ultimately making them more successful in the mainstream but deeply mistrusted and disrespected in the alternative world.
A number of the original Grunge bands had dealt with problems of drug addiction, mainly heroin, depression and suicide. They were just too self destructive to have long term careers. Many of the mid/late '90s alternative muscicians managed to steer clear of these problems and were able to hold it together for a considerably lengthier period of time.
A possible model for the desire to avoid such problems is The Smashing Pumpkins, who managed to avoid self-destructive behaviour for most of their career untill the heroin overdoses of drummer Jimmy Chamberlain and keyboard player Johnathon Melvoin in 1997. Chamberlain survived and was fired from the band, Melvoin died. Chamberlain got over his heroin addiction and returned to the band two years later but the damage was done, the album Machina - The Machines Of God was released to almost universally bad reviews and the band released their final work, entitled Machina II - The Friends & Enemies Of Modern Music, to a few close friends who were asked to put the album on the internet as MP3s.
In stark contrast, many of the early alternative bands are much respected in alternative circles for not selling out their original principles. Pearl Jam in particular were not corporate friendly, refusing to make music videos for MTV, organizing a whole tour with a minor ticketing agency plus other anti commercial actions. Nirvana were also not willing to play ball, refusing interviews with major networks and magazines, refusing to mime properly on the BBC's Top Of The Pops as well as going on live shows like The Johnathan Ross Show and playing the wrong song. All of this has placed a distrust of corporations deep into the hearts of many alternatives, resulting in the The Battle In Seattle in 1999 as well as the popularization of such anti-corporate authors as Michael Moore and Naomi Klein and the founding of the Anti-Globalization Movement.
Another integral part of alternative culture is that of good causes. The Lollapalooza tour includes tents where people can sign up to support causes. Many bands have played gigs for causes including Rock Against Racism and Rock For Choice, and Rage Against The Machine played a gig to raise defence funds for Mumia Abu Jamal, a prisoner on death row who is believed innocent by many alternatives. A more recent case is that of the fight to free The West Memphis Three, a cause supported by many alternative artists including Henry Rollins and Pearl Jam.
Comedy is not always associated with the rest of Alternative Culture. However some comedians from the 1980s and the 1990s, most notably Bill Hicks, successfully endeared themselves to the alternative crowd and have a large core following amongst alternatives.
Even though the majority of alternative culture is American, other countries have contributed to it, most notably Japan. Japanese contributions to the culture are not as prevelant and popular as many of the american contributions, but they are worth noting. The main ones are Manga, Anime, Japanese wrestling and Japanese Noise Underground artists like Masonna and Merzbow.
To a certain degree, alternative culture was a reaction to what was perceived as the unauthentic, fake '80s culture of yuppies and hair metal. Most hair metal bands like Motley Crue and Guns N' Roses were living a lifestyle out of the reach of their fans. One of the original missions of Alternative culture was to bridge the gap between audience and artist, especially in the case of Fugazi, as well as making music without the macho attitude that came with hair metal. This macho element alienated many people, making it difficult to feel empathy for the artists.
Many alternative artists place great value on being able to connect with their audience on a deeper and more personal level. It would be wrong to say that all alternatives are outsiders, depressives and misfits, but people with alternative views and darker personalities are more likely to be drawn to alternative culture because of the people who make it possible. The ability to relate on an emotional or personal level, or at the very least to be able relate to the artist's message, is seen as a very important quality by many alternatives.
By the late '90s the alternative stereotype had changed, especially in the UK. The new look consisted of hoodied coats, , belt chains, baggy skateboarding jeans and sneakers. In the UK the term Greebo (being different to the the original 1970s definition of a greebo being a kind of biker),was applied to the new alternative stereotype, skateboarding became even more a part of the culture than ever before and sales of Kerrang magazine were better than ever. Most of this was due largely to Nu Metal bands like Limp Bizkit and the Deftones achieveing success commercially and setting a new trend. The dark gothic elements of grunge were not included for the most part in the new movement except for the rise of certain metal bands including Marilyn Manson and Cradle Of Filth.
To suggest that all people interested in alternative culture like all of the things listed here would be wrong, but a lot of the attitudes, TV shows, bands, movies, books and general interests listed here do appeal to similar people.
After Grunge exploded in 1991, the media view of people in alternative culture was that of general distain, many using Douglas Coupland's book, Generation X: Tales For An Accelerated Culture, as an guide to alternative culture. The stereotype is that of greasy haired, flannel shirt wearing, apathetic slacker teenagers and 20 somethings. In no way is this true in all cases in the same way that the peace sign waving Hippie stereotype is not true in all cases of the 1960s counterculture.
The Gen X stereotype was used by corporations to sell everything, from cars to Levis. By the late '90s and early 2000s , Hip Hop was being used instead, this time to sell designer clothes and McDonalds.
It is not always easy to decide if something is a part of alternative culture, but it is usually obvious if something is likely to not find a place in mainstream culture. This could be because it is too forceful and uncompromising like the comedy of Bill Hicks or the writings of Bret Easton Ellis, too gross or disturbing like the Budd Dwyer and Daniel Pearl tapes or too intellectual and arty like the music of Throbbing Gristle, Glenn Branca and John Cage. However, many bands, movies and TV shows originaly associated with alternative culture do go onto enjoy widespread commercial success.
Icons of alternative culture
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