[thomaspaine]

What do you understand by the terms mainstream culture and counterculture in reference to the 1960s, was there one counter culture or were there may different counter cultures, what were the characteristics of the counter movements, was there a straightforward distinction between mainstream culture and counter culture, was counter culture in opposition to mainstream culture

[languadoc]

The counter-culture was a political, artistic, and sociological macromeme which could possibly be defined as beginning after world war 2 and continuing as an identifiable "movement" up to the present day.

It could be argued, however, that many of the attributes of the counter-culture have their origins in much older cultural and historical forms stemming from political and artistic movements found over the entirety of recorded history and even of pre-history.

While the origins of the counter-culture are not easy to define (because of the great variety of cultural concepts which flow into and contribute to its overall identity), in the western world, the years 1965 - 1975 would encompass the apex of its influence and popularity.

It could also be said that the counter-culture represents itself as whatever the mainstream culture isn't. While that's a simplification of sorts, it brings in the central counter-cultural ideas of rebellion (especially youth rebellion) and passive resistance.

Mainstream culture on the other hand includes the most widely-accepted (and therefore dominant) social and cultural ways that people interact with each other. Religious, sporting, business, political/government and educational norms of behaviour are communicated in social/family/school environments and through the media.