IB English B Beliefs, Values & Subcultures Notes

Solution

Why Subcultures Matter

When people hear the word “subculture,” they often picture teenagers with unusual clothes or music that sounds too loud. But that image misses the point. Subcultures are not about looking different for the sake of it. They are about finding a place to belong.

Take music as an example. Punk in the 1970s was not just noise; it was a way for young people to reject authority and to speak when nobody was listening. The same pattern exists today. Online gaming groups, street art communities, or K-pop fandoms give people a chance to connect with others who share their passion, even if they feel isolated at school or at home.

Subcultures also create diversity. They prove that identity is not fixed by nationality or by school uniforms. Joining a subculture means following a code. That might involve how you dress, the music you choose, or the language you use online. Those choices help people show what they value.

Of course, subcultures are often criticised. Parents may call tattoos, piercings, or certain slang a “bad influence.” Yet beneath these symbols are values like loyalty, freedom, and creativity.

Instead of treating subcultures as problems, schools and communities should see them as resources. They provide young people with energy and belonging. Most importantly, they remind us that identity is not one-size-fits-all.

Solution

The Invisible Rules That Guide Us

Good morning everyone,

We often think rules are written down in laws or school policies. But some of the most powerful rules are invisible. They sit underneath our habits. Why do we queue? Why do we avoid eye contact in some cultures but insist on it in others? Why do we believe some foods are “normal” and others “strange”? These everyday choices reveal what we value without us even noticing.

Take honesty. In many Western cultures, being direct is considered a sign of respect. Yet in parts of Asia, softening the truth to avoid embarrassment is seen as the polite option. Neither approach is right or wrong. Each reflects what the culture values most: clarity or harmony. These small differences show how invisible values shape the way people relate to each other.

Subcultures follow similar patterns. To an outsider, skateboarding might look like just tricks in a park. But to members, it is a world with its own language, rituals, and even unspoken codes of respect. Vegetarians and vegans share values that go beyond diet: they make ethical choices about animals and the planet. Online gaming communities, too, have their own codes: how to speak to teammates, how to build trust, even how to dress digital avatars. What looks trivial from the outside is often meaningful on the inside.

Of course, values and subcultures sometimes clash. Religious beliefs can come into conflict with laws on gender equality. Youth subcultures may challenge traditions that parents or governments want to preserve. When these conflicts arise, societies face difficult questions. Do we allow freedom of belief no matter what? Or do we limit it when those beliefs cause harm to others? These debates are not abstract. They decide how people live together.

The real lesson is that beliefs and subcultures are not add-ons to life. They are the engines behind our decisions. They shape what we eat, how we vote, what we wear, and even who we spend time with. Recognising this gives us power. If values are the hidden forces guiding our lives, then we can choose which ones to follow, which to question, and which to let go.

That is the responsibility of young people today. We are not just inheriting technology or economic systems. We are inheriting values. The challenge is to ask which of them help us build fairer, more inclusive communities, and which only divide us. Climate change, inequality, and digital transformation are huge issues, but none of them can be solved without rethinking our values first.

The future will not be built only with machines or money. It will be built on the beliefs we choose to carry forward. Let’s make sure they are values worth defending.