Subculture: Finding Your Crowd in a Crowd

In 1915, Robert Park described the city as “a mosaic of little worlds” populated by groups of people with a common way of life. ¹ These subcultural ‘little worlds' within cities have been around for centuries, and despite all the diversity and social mixing, subcultures and other social groups can still be found in modern cities today. Some of the most visible are the ethnic enclaves. Nearly every large city in America has a Chinatown, but other groups are found in cities around the world, for example, in Koreatowns or Japantowns. Subcultural little worlds can also be found rooted in major institutions such as churches or schools, or focused on special interests such as body building at Muscle Beach in Venice, California, or breakdancing in the streets of New York. Other urban subcultures that depart more significantly from the cultural mainstream persist under the radar, often known only to their own members. For example, many cities are home to underground Goth and Rave scenes, while in some places a subculture is developing around the patronage of underground restaurants operated out of individuals' homes. ²