The subculture that I would like to share with you is the surfing subculture. A culture that I think has many unique characteristics separating it from other subcultures. It is also a culture that stirs some controversy surrounding its members due to the unique and leisurely lifestyle many choose to live. As a whole, I chose this topic for my online zine because I think that the surf culture offers up a wider discussion about the culture than just “to surf or not to surf?” I have attempted to inform my audience about the history of the culture as well as the lifestyle surfers live. I have also included stereotypes that are attached to surfers because I think it is a very prominent issue when discussing cultural groups. I've included pages that describe commonalities of the culture as well as pages that provide information for people who decide they want to get involved and learn how to get started with the surfing culture. Even people who visit this site that have no intention of joining a subculture can gain insight and new information about a part of our society that effects everyone due to the fact that surfing is such a worldwide industry that continues to grow. My site is compiled of nine different pages that I will now explain.
The first page I have included in my zine is called the “History of the Surfing Subculture.” This page contains a simplified list of facts about the development of surfing. The purpose of this is to share background information with the audience members who may be interested in joining this culture but do not know anything about it. The tab explains the revolution of surfing from a spiritual and sacred Hawaiian experience and lifestyle, to a more European/ American commercialized sport. I felt the need to include this also because it raises a larger question about how dominant cultures often have an ethnocentric view about their ways and tend to shut down any beliefs or customs that do not align with theirs. I hope that my audience realizes this when they read the history of surfing and try to avoid shutting out the culture just because it doesn't align with their beliefs at the moment. I believe that you can never know if something is right for you unless you try it and that is why I think this my zine is useful.
The next tab I have included in my online zine focuses around surfing stereotypes. Often, there is a negative stigma around surfers and I aimed to surface those opinions and allow my audience to think about how they view surfers and give them the chance to change their opinion if they feel it is appropriate. I personally think stereotypes are never fully true because they do not encompass or describe each and every individual person. I aimed to prove that surfing culture provides for a great deal of individualism aside from the societal standards they are known for.
The sections titled “What to Wear,” “Surfer Lingo,” “Surfin’ Tunes,” “Cool Tricks” and “Want to Learn to Surf?” are included to inform interested audience members on what they will be encountering if they join the culture. This includes common dress and brands (where to shop), how to decipher some common surfer language, the history and current styles of surfer music, some interesting images and videos about the sport itself and finally links and numbers to call in order to learn how to surf. By giving an overview of these different facets on the culture and providing information on how to get involved, I hope that surfers can enjoy the information and media I included and that non-surfers can decide if this culture fits their societal values and ideals.
Lastly, I have included a crossword puzzle quiz, just for a fun knowledge test, and a discussion board that questions my audience on why they do or do not surf. Although my goal is for people to make their own informed decisions about the surfing subculture, I think having the opinions of others is always a good reference. I hope that the discussion is continued, as I believe that hearing real-life opinions from others could be very beneficial to people on the fence about the culture or even people who are against the culture in general. I hope that my zine is useful to people who may be interested in the surfing culture, but that it can also be entertaining and informative to people who are not. Either way, I hope the societal questions this online zine raises, though not explicitly stated, are picked up on and taken into consideration not only when thinking about the surfing culture, but also subcultures and mainstream culture in general. Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy this online zine. Surf away!