nonmainstream
Not widely accepted
Nonmainstream describes what falls outside dominant or widely accepted culture, practices, or views.
A nonmainstream political candidate operates outside major parties.
Nonmainstream music exists apart from commercial radio play.
The term is neutral, simply marking distance from the conventional: Her nonmainstream approach to education emphasizes student-led learning.
Sixties counterculture member
- beatnikFifties counterculture member
- punkRaw, fast rock genre
- anarchistOne opposing all governance
- radicalRoot-indicating symbol
rebellion · protest · activism · dissent · antiestablishment · revolutionary · subversive · commune
Innovative cultural pioneers
- experimentalTesting new methods
- unconventionalDeparting from standard practice
- offbeatPleasantly strange or unusual
- unorthodoxContrary to accepted practice
eccentric · quirky · bohemian · grunge · emo · lo-fi · arthouse · esoteric
Free from external control
- self-publishedReleased by the creator
- unsignedBearing no signature
- grassrootsCommon people as political base
- bootstrappedFunded without outside capital
low-budget · emerging · crowdfunded · self-produced · garage · homebrew · underground · niche
Group with alternative norms
- specializedAdapted for particular function
- obscureUnknown to most
- undergroundBelow ground or countercultural
- limitedRestricted in extent
selective · curated · insider · subcultural · coterie · clique · devoted · aficionado
hippie
Sixties counterculture member
radical · rebellion · protest · activism · dissent · antiestablishment · revolutionary · subversive · commune · sit-in
avant-garde
Innovative cultural pioneers
- experimentalTesting new methods
- unconventionalDeparting from standard practice
- offbeatPleasantly strange or unusual
unorthodox · eccentric · quirky · bohemian · grunge · emo · lo-fi · arthouse · esoteric · idiosyncratic
independent
Free from external control
- self-publishedReleased by the creator
- unsignedBearing no signature
- grassrootsCommon people as political base
bootstrapped · low-budget · emerging · crowdfunded · self-produced · garage · homebrew · underground · niche · boutique
subculture
Group with alternative norms
- specializedAdapted for particular function
- obscureUnknown to most
- undergroundBelow ground or countercultural
limited · selective · curated · insider · subcultural · coterie · clique · devoted · aficionado · enthusiast
nonmainstreammainstream
Dominant cultural current
popular · dominant · conventional · mass-market · established