Hey, congradulations, you've realized that the Mainstream culture in America is bullshit, good for you. (if you haven't made that realization, ignore adulation and praise) That doesn't mean however you have to be anti-mainstream. This can take several forms mind you, but basically there are a couple of anti-mainstream movements in America today that, to be honest, are mainstream themselves, they just don't say so.
First a couple of important points. One, most mainstream people don't realize just what it means to be mainstream, they are blind and ignorant to what they are doing. Those that do realize that they're opinions are being shaped by a couple of advertising agencies don't care. They know they enjoy what they wear and what they do, they don't care why. Two, no anti-mainstreamers realize that they're movement has been homogenized and declawed. By your act of not doing as the mainstreamers, you aren't necessarily affecting change on the system, because the system has already adapted to your habits. This includes both anti-mainstreams, the punk and indy movements. They are different mind you, but together in the fact that neither is truelly original or independant any more, let alone wild. At one point they were on the edge, no everyone's doing it and you're happy to see your numbers rise.
At one point in America, the punk movement was trully stunning. People would talk in foriegn accents to show both homage to the founders of the movement, the English, and would to freak out the norms. They would mutalate themselves to prove they held nothign sacred, and would encourage violent acts and mischief. It slowly shifted, as that behavior became more acceptable and the economy recessed, it became associated with gangs. They would dress even more outragously, finding new and innovative things to do with their hair and flesh. Then it wussed out. Punks would dress in black clothing, and afixiate patches with safety pins of punk rockers, slogans, and movement icons. They went from unique, distinctive styles to uniforms, only thing was their uniform wasn't like the uniform one would expect. Much like the grung movement, at first it was the laid back and unconcerned with cool, then people thought that was cool and everyone was wearing baggy clothing. When someone sees someone do something do something they consider cool, they want to emulate it, and do so. That's not cool, it's imitation. The only difference between that and the mainstream is who's telling you what's cool, you're still part of mainstream culture, just now there's a couple options.
Same thing with indy kids. They wear thick rimmed glasses, you know, to let us know that they're smart. They wear clothing bought from the Salvation Army, not because they are that poor but because going bohemian is so cool. What's better than wearing a shirt that someone else wore, sweat stained, and ripped holes in? I'd guess a clean shirt, but then again I'm not an indy. They praise people like Andy Warhol, for shaking up the establishment and fighting convention. That's all well and good, if you're into him, There's a split though within the indy, they like to say they love jazz, but then they listen to music that the mainstream kids are listening to. I've noticed that a lot less of them have been listening to jazz, but rather like to discover new artists. You may not put a lot of stock in music, but let me say this much. Just because something is jazz doesn't mean it's cool, same way just cause a kid's black it doesn't make him cool. It's slowly moving away from the indy movement, which I suppose is a good thing since they only listened to it for superficial reasons, but there's more to it than that. The music they listen to now is the same shit that everyone else listens to. What does that mean? Where has there individuality gone I say. If the only difference they now have is their clothing, they're in trouble. Atleast the punks like the heavy thrashing of a guitar with angry lyrics, that's something. The indy likes whatevers on tap nowadays.
What it comes down to is these various styles are just superficial, barely skin deep. The proof? Go to a coffeehouse, a classroom, or a movie theatre. You'll see them all, sitting next to each other, doing the same shit. It's variations on a theme. The indies all got different shirts from thirty years ago, but they all got the same hair cuts. The punks all got the same clothes on, with a couple of extra piercings. The typical mainstreamer has a cell phone in one hand, and a bottle water or capachinno (i pride myself in not knowing the correct spelling, this ignorance means something) in the other. The difference between them is negligable at this point, its a different uniform in the same army.
What them, am I and my friends then if I don't believe we prescribe to any of the above groups? You can't catagorize us, we have no label. We have no common theme in our dress or political beliefs, we have no unifiing taste in music or detestment of other groups. Whatever opinion one of us has, there's almost certainly one with an opposing view. (hey, i dont hate hippies) We are a conglomaration of various ideologies and attitudes. Yes, some of my friends can fit in some of the groups I described, but most don't, and on a whole our possie can't be defined. We're just a bunch of people, who do what we please.
I could ask you a bunch of questions to see if you are just a follower or trully someone independant of movements, but it'd be better if we discussed it in person, as so I could quiz you in such a manner that would make it so you don't necessarily see what you want to see.
Of course, you may realize that you are part of a mainstream, and even if you joined it in rebellion of the concept of a mainstream, and don't care anymore because you enjoy it so much it doesn't make a difference. That's fine too, whatever makes you happy is what's important. I just wrote this essay under the assumption that you wouldn't think so.