Abstract
One of the most important characteristics of contemporary society is its internal diversity. This diversity manifests itself among other ways by the existence of many subcultures.
These are social groups characterised by specific set of norms, values, behavioural patterns and lifestyles that to some extent differ from dominant culture (if it is possible to talk about deliminated culture(s) in the contemporary world), but which are also its constituents. Subcultures can be established on various bases (e.g. ethnical, socio-professional, interests, etc.).
One of these principles is often shared music because musical discourse is a place where identities can be created. Musical subcultures became a significant phenomenon in Western (Euro-American) society in the second half of the 20 th century and were there also intensively studied and described.
Even though Czech society went through a different development in the second half of 20 th century than most Western ones, it is still possible to trace beginning of subcultures in the former Czechoslovakia from the 1950s and with a high degree certainty in the 1970s. The aim of our text is to show how the social sciences perceive the phenomenon of musical subcultures and their changes.
We distinguish between subcultural ideology (values, norms and attitudes) and subcultural style (visage, demeanor and slang). We will also focus marginally on the context of subcultures in the Czech Republic and the former Czechoslovakia.
We attempt to show to what extent contemporary subcultures are influenced by globalization processes and to what extent it is possible to see its elements in local diversification. We would also like to trace the contemporary trend of the blurring of the distinct borders among particular subcultures and mixing of subcultural styles.