counterculture
counterculture — noun
1. The set of beliefs, values, and ways of living shared by a community that delibe
The set of beliefs, values, and ways of living shared by a community that deliberately positions itself against the mainstream — for example, young people in the 1960s who rejected established authority and explored new styles of music, dress, and communal life.
Rania wrote her university thesis on the counterculture of 1960s San Francisco.
collocation: the counterculture + of + [place/time period]
The counterculture of the 1960s challenged traditional ideas about family, work, and personal freedom.
collocation: counterculture + challenged + traditional ideas
Nikhil asked his grandmother about the counterculture festivals she attended during the summer of 1969.
At a Tokyo gallery, Daichi saw posters from the American counterculture of the late 1960s.
- subculture
Broader term for any group with distinct customs and tastes; does not necessarily imply opposition to the mainstream
- underground
Often refers to artistic or musical movements outside commercial channels; emphasises hidden or non-mainstream activity rather than active rejection of social values
- alternative culture
Less confrontational term; suggests choosing a different path rather than fighting the establishment
- mainstream
The dominant culture that most people accept and follow
- establishment
The accepted social order and its institutions (government, schools, media) that the counterculture opposes
文法句型
the counterculture + of [period/place]
counterculture + movement / festival / lifestyle / values
用法筆記
The term is most strongly associated with the youth movements of the 1960s and 1970s in the United States and Western Europe, though it can describe any group whose values deliberately oppose mainstream culture. Often used attributively (counterculture movement, counterculture values).