Humans have been around for 300,000 years, but the concept of a subculture has only really been identified and studied in the last hundred. Have a think about that. It’s pretty unbelievable. 290,900 years of towing the line, and then bam, a couple of wars, some contrasting ideologies, and society starts to eat itself for breakfast, with a variety of side orders.
No doubt there were always those who went against the grain, jumping left when others jumped right, but the freedom to swim against cultural and societal norms is a relatively modern phenomenon. The core urge to avoid death, find food, and procreate didn’t leave much time to stand out and rebel. Religious conformity in (relatively) recent times didn’t favour rebellion too much either, and stepping out of line wasn’t really an option for the more modern man (or woman).
Fast forward to 2025, and we’re 80-90 years post-hipster, the David Byrne suit-wearing, recreational drug-taking jazz lovers who stand out as one of the first groups to purposefully avoid convention, and the landscape for a subculture is very different. In the world of subreddits and social media, the proliferation of splits in the mainstream has left modern Western culture like a tree root, and everyone is included. We’re so used to everything you do; it’s really nothing new. Heavily pierced trans biker with ADHD and a furries fetish? Mmm… It’s just so easy to scroll past these days. 91% of Gen Z feel there is no longer a mainstream culture. Everything is normalised. We’re all unique snowflakes, for better or worse.
Jersey is conservative, no two ways about it. Last time we featured a tattoo shoot, we were accused of being too edgy. As we sought to profile subcultures, it seems fitting to profile a group that would have been controversial a generation ago but is now an integral part of society. A subculture, but an accepted norm. Our covers this month recognise and reflect on the evolution of a collective culture that now accepts individuality more than ever before, I think. And as ever, this edition of Gallery is a celebration of the diversity of our island. Thanks for picking it up.
BD
