By Jack Gilbert Montgomery, MLS  (Librarian, Professor Emeritus, Western Kentucky University Libraries)

Column Editor:  Lesley Rice Montgomery, MLIS  (Catalog Librarian II, Tulane University Libraries’ Technical Services Department)

Against the Grain V38#4

Introduction

Jack Montgomery is concluding his “Wandering the Web” series, providing unique online reference resources while expanding on the background histories and modern social trends relating to subcultures.  In the April issue, he investigated the role of costuming in various subcultures.  This month’s column focuses on groups as varied as bikers or the outlaw motorcycle subculture;  bodybuilders;  the art subculture of burlesque performers;  so-called hippies of the late 1960s through mid-1970s;  tattoo aficionados who love to collect body art, also known as tattoo enthusiasts, ink aficionados or body art lovers;  and speaking of body lovers, this article takes an unabashed look at the world of nudists and nudism as a lifestyle.  Lastly, just in time for the Halloween season, Jack will complete his index of fascinating alternative subgroups with an exploration into the world of vampires. — Lesley

Author’s Introduction

The “Wandering the Web” column was reawakened in the Against the Grain professional magazine a number of years ago in order to provide those of us who do reference work with some assistance on what vetted websites might be valuable to recommend to our patrons.  Regarding this issue, Webster’s Dictionary defines  the word lifestyle as “the typical way of life of an individual, group, or culture.”  The same dictionary defines the term subculture as “an ethnic, regional, economic, or social group exhibiting characteristic patterns of behavior sufficient to distinguish it from others within an embracing culture or society.”  These two terms are remarkably similar in that their meanings often overlap.  The exotic subcultures in this section adopt and practice a lifestyle that makes them distinct and unique. — Jack

Bikers:  A Cornucopia of Outlaw Motorcycle Subculture.

In America, the biker subculture emerged post-World War II, largely driven by combat veterans seeking brotherhood, adrenaline, and rebellion against societal norms.  While early 20th-century riding clubs focused on touring, the modern “outlaw” biker image solidified after the 1947 Hollister riot, creating a “one-percenter” culture defined by loyalty to clubs rather than to mainstream rules.  An excellent article on the history of the American outlaw biker subculture entitled “How WWII Vets Helped Establish America’s Biker Clubs” can be found at History.com https://www.history.com/articles/motorcycle-gangs-origins-wwii-veterans and at “The Biker Chronicles:  How the Motorcycle Culture Began” by Dave Nichols on the Sturgis Rider news website located at https://www.buffalochip.com/sturgis_rider_news/the-biker-chronicles-how-the-motorcycle-culture-began/.

It must be noted that 99 percent of motorcycle clubs are law abiding groups who simply enjoy the sport and experience of riding motorcycles.   Clubs are usually classified as formal associations with mission statements, distinctive outfits, and often are family oriented and even religious in focus.  With regard to websites on the web, on the more refined side of two-wheeled riding, the average motorcyclist would want to examine the well-known site Cycle World https://www.cycleworld.com/ where the reader will find reviews of new motorcycles, buyer’s guides, and even a podcast series created by recognized authorities on a variety of topics.  The site has a weakness in the drop-down menu, which is not as detailed as it could be, but it is functional.  Access the American Motorcyclist Association, the leading general motorcyclist organization, whose mission is “to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling,” via their website, https://americanmotorcyclist.com/.

To access information on the more socially edgy biker culture, see the excellent, well-organized yet commercial websites that market clothing, motorcycle parts, and accessories.  Some examples of such websites include Bobber Brothers https://bobberbrothers.com/ where one can find a blog section that provides articles on such things as types of motorcycles from sportbikes to “bobbers,” an article on biker slang, and multiple articles on the outlaw biker culture.  Another site blog that has an extensive list of outlaw biker clubs and their patches is https://www.vikingbags.com/blogs/news/top-35-motorcycle-clubs-in-america-their-badass-biker-patches.  A detailed history of the outlaw biker phenomenon can be found at https://frontstreetatlas.com/.  It has a page entitled “Outlaw Nation:  A History of the One-Percenter Motorcycle Clubs” that features individual histories of outlaw clubs such as the Hells Angels, the Outlaws and the Bandidos, as well as individual biker histories for notables like Ralph “Sonny” Barger, Maurice “Mom” Boucher, and Bernie Guindon.  One unique resource found in “Outlaw Nation” is an extensive bibliography of titles on outlaw culture  under “Sources” from which the information for the website is sourced.  This site is highly recommended.

Bodybuilding:  So Much More than Muscles.

The bodybuilding subculture is a community focused on extreme muscle hypertrophy and aesthetic sculpting through intense resistance training, specialized diets, and often performance-enhancing drugs.  Centered on “gym rat” culture, it involves immense self-discipline, shared terminology, and sometimes extreme dedication that transcends mainstream fitness.  Its history reveals that from its 19^th century beginnings, the sport of physical development has attracted both men and women for generations.

The sport and culture of bodybuilding has also been the subject of both praise and controversy in the past.  An interesting, well-researched 2014 article on the darker side of bodybuilding entitled “Muscle as Fashion:  Messages from the Bodybuilding Subculture” by Anthony Cortese, PhD, can be found at the AMA Journal of Ethics website, https://journalofethics.ama-assn.org/article/muscle-fashion-messages-bodybuilding-subculture/2014-07.  We also find a well-researched, annotated article on bodybuilding on the Grinnell.edu website “Subcultures and Sociology” — a pedagogical website created by Professor Ross Haenfler and his students.  This site should be the starting point for any inquiry into the bodybuilding subculture.  https://haenfler.sites.grinnell.edu/bodybuilders

So much of bodybuilding is concerned with muscular development but also with competitive events to highlight that development.  This site is sponsored by The National Academy of Sports Medicine’s bodybuilding division, which has as its goal to train and certify professional sports trainers.  One of these blog sites devoted to bodybuilding by Andre Adams, a professional athlete with the International Federation of Bodybuilding (IFBB), outlines the entire competitive structure of bodybuilding.  Other blog postings discuss many relevant topics including diets, supplements, posing, and how to become a professional bodybuilder.  This page, https://www.nasm.org/resource-center/blogs, will provide someone new to the sport with responsible information from an acknowledged expert in the field and is highly recommended as a point of referral.  The entire NASM site is valuable as a source of high quality, vetted sports information.  Another source for excellent information on bodybuilding is to be found on the blog created by the gym franchise called West Coast Strength headquartered in Salem, Oregon and founded in 2011 by former bodybuilder Alex Whitaker.  https://westcoaststrength.com/fueling-your-fitness-with-post-workout-nutrition-9/

While there are many excellent resources, recommendations regarding any list of bodybuilding websites must include the site of the International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation (IFBB), which was established in Canada in 1946 and now has affiliates in 204 nations.  The IFBB, according to its introductory statement, “is one of the largest and most active international sport federations in the world.”  https://ifbb.com/  This site is structured around drop-down menus that cover every aspect of the world of bodybuilding.  If there was a single site to recommend, this would be it.  Finally, in one of the most famous bodybuilding magazines of the past fifty years, Muscle and Fitness now exists in an online format.  https://www.muscleandfitness.com/

Burlesque:  A Body-positive Performance Art Subculture.

Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines one type of burlesque as “theatrical entertainment of a broadly humorous, often earthy character consisting of short turns, comic skits, and sometimes striptease acts.”  According to the website hosted by Grinnell College entitled “Sociology and Subcultures, Burlesque” located at the site https://haenfler.sites.grinnell.edu/neo-burlesque/, burlesque is a performing art that emerged in the mid-19th century in the United Kingdom and migrated to America after the Civil War and as a separate dance/performing art from the striptease shows, which were considered lewd entertainment.   In his article entitled “A History of the Musical Burlesque” by John Kenrick  for “Musicals 101.com:  The Cyber-Encyclopedia of Musical theater, Film and Television,” the author states that, “Most people think that ‘burlesque’ means female strippers walking a runway to a bump and grind beat.  But that only fits the form in its declining years.  At its best, burlesque was a rich source of music and comedy that kept American audiences laughing from 1840 through the 1960s.”  https://www.musicals101.com/burlesque.htm

Focusing on the use of elaborate costumes, a reliance on comedy and even political satire, musical themed routines, and an avoidance of total nudity, what now is known as vintage burlesque enjoyed considerable popularity as a part of the vaudeville live-entertainment universe.  As live entertainment productions decreased in popularity when the motion picture industry and then television became dominant in the post-WWII period, burlesque tried to maintain itself but faded from the general popular narrative.

In the mid-1990s, however, burlesque, now called “neo-burlesque” emerged along two separate expressions:  vintage and underground.  These two expressions evolved a unique subculture that is probably more popular with the American public now than ever before.  Burlesque is often seen by female fans as a celebration of women’s self-expression.  Performers like Dita Von Teese have become internet stars, and performances command record ticket prices and are attended by as many women as men.  There are several burlesque troops here in New Orleans that offer regular performances at major venues.  A unique aspect of neo-burlesque is that it embraces all ethnic, racial, and body types for its performers.  In addition, there are male called boylesque, as well.  Often compared to strippers and exotic dancers, modern burlesque performers bristle at this comparison and insist that their performances are more sophisticated and that they attract a higher, more educated audience.

To explore the history of traditional and neo-burlesque, the “Burlexe” website https://burlexe.com/ is a colorful, well-organized website that lets you explore short articles about a wide variety of burlesque-related topics including makeup and costuming, performance advice, how to create a burlesque stage name, and many insightful interviews with performers and others involved in this performance art.

An excellent site to explore the lives of performers would be the “Burlesque Hall of Fame” website https://burlesquehall.com/, “a nonprofit museum committed to preserving, sharing, celebrating, and inspiring the art of burlesque.”  The Burlesque Hall of Fame is located outside Las Vegas, Nevada.  Follow  standard drop-down menus to direct you to topics like programs, a wide variety of articles about famous performers, classes, and museum exhibitions.

Hippies:  From the Wandervögel to the Rainbow Tribe.

“Far out!”  We have all heard of the remarkable baby boomer subculture that appeared to develop out of the Haight-Ashbury section of San Francisco, California during the late 1960s when it was discovered by the national media outlets and swept up into popular culture via our television sets and our local radio stations.  Would you be surprised to know that this subculture has its historical roots in 19th century Europe?  The excellent, well-researched article entitled “Hippie Roots and the Perennial Subculture” at https://www.hipplanet.com/hip/activism/hippie-roots-the-perennial-subculture/, written by Gordon Kennedy and Kody Ryan, traces various aspects of what became the hippie movement back to the mid-19th century Europe, with the Wandervögel, who were members of a popular back-to-nature German youth movement that started in 1896.  This article is found in a well-organized site entitled “Hippyland:  Home of the Hippies,“ https://www.hipplanet.com/hip/.  It is a veritable online treasure trove of information about the subculture that still has remnants existing in various corners of the United States and the rest of the world today.  Another excellent print source for historical insight is American Hippies by W. J. Rorabaugh, published by Cambridge University Press in 2015.

Another place to research the hippie subculture from the British perspective  is the Museum of Youth Culture (https://www.museumofyouthculture.com/about/) located in London, which opened in 2025 and has as its mission, “to reset the narrative around young people, to give light to their untold history and inspire future generations.”  Of particular value is an essay on the British hippie movement by John Street, a professor of politics in the School of Political, Social and International Studies at the University of East Anglia, entitled “Peace, Love and Hippies.”

Although a commercial retail site founded in 1995, HippieShop.com is a family-owned online store.  There are valuable historical insights to be found in the blog section of  “HippieShop” at https://hippieshop.com/blogs/the-tribe/tagged/history, in a series of articles created by the website’s creators called “The Tribe” including “7 Reasons the Hippie Movement Still Inspires Us” and “Eyes of the World:  An Exploration into the Grateful Dead’s Perception.”

Speaking of the Grateful Dead, this iconic “hippie band” created its own subculture called the Deadheads which developed its own lifestyle that arose out of being a fan of the band.  Famous mythologist Joseph Campbell once referred to the Deadheads as a tribe.  Deadheads comprise the fans of the famous California psychedelic rock/jam band the Grateful Dead.  Known for following the band’s concert schedule, Deadheads formed their own unique subculture of drugs, music, and countercultural mores.  The Dead, as they were known, disbanded after guitarist Jerry Garcia’s death, but the social impulse to follow a jam band evolved around another band from the University of Vermont called Phish, formed in 1983, and the subculture doubled and moved onward.

The premier site on “The Dead” and their subculture is to be found at https://www.dead.net/ and the site https://guides.library.ucsc.edu/gratefuldeadarchive.  The online archives for the Grateful Dead is located at the University of California, Santa Cruz in the McHenry Library.  This searchable treasure trove of contracts, memorabilia, and photos is the result of thirty years of collecting.  An excellent article on the Deadhead subculture is to be found at https://www.gratefulweb.com/articles/deadheads-then-and-now-why-the-music-never-stopped/.

Nudists: A Lifestyle Subculture that Eschews Costuming All Together.

I can remember several years ago while attending a regional library meeting when a group of us were at dinner and discussing our lives and work, one of the ladies who had just gotten married informed us that she and her new husband had become nudists and were attending various events at the local nudist resort.  The table fell silent, as none of us knew what to say.  Finally, one brave soul asked her what that lifestyle entailed.  Our colleague explained what social nudism was and how it functioned in their lives.  We all left the table that night better educated about this often poorly understood subculture.  In truth, social nudism and naturism has been a fact of American life since the early 1920s, when it migrated from Europe where it was considered a practice for restoring one’s physical and mental health.  I will not lay this subculture bare but will offer you at least some basic sites.  Please note that the following sites may contain partial or total nudity.  Access these sites at your own discretion and according to the policies of your institution.

This is the leading organization in the United States that promotes social nudism, the American Association for Nude Recreation.  It is an extensive, logically organized site with links to frequently asked questions, codes of ethics and conduct, articles on the history of naturism, philosophies, current events, and clubs.

In existence for over four decades, the Naturist Society has a mission statement that asserts its purpose is, “to promote a culture of body acceptance through clothing-optional recreation, education, and community outreach.”  The website is structured around basic drop-down menus revealing a variety of topics such as gatherings and events, special interest groups, and resorts.  The focus is on family-oriented nudism.

Tattooing and Body Modification:  Art that Gets Under Your Skin and Changes It.

Although the roots of tattooing and body modification go back over five thousand  years and span countless cultures, tattooing is enjoying yet another renaissance in our society.  There is even a movement within tattoo called permanent makeup which is designed to give a permanent solution to those who tire of putting on their facial makeup.  Whatever your opinion of the subject, it is a growing subculture with its own leaders, conferences, and dialect.

For those clients who might be interested in becoming a tattoo professional, one could refer them to the “Ink Different” website where drop-down menus provide access to the profession of tattoo artist.  https://tattooapprenticeships.com/a-lifetime-career-the-art-and-business-of-tattooing/

“The Vanishing Tattoo” makes the claim that it has an exhaustive series of articles on the history of tattooing.  http://www.vanishingtattoo.com/tattoos_history.htm  This provides an excellent history with extensive links to related topics and is a useful source for students with a paper assignment.

Vampire Subcultures:  It Resides in the Blood and the Power.

Living in New Orleans sometimes puts you in direct contact with the vampire subculture that has grown here during the past fifty years.  The modern vampire subculture is commonly believed to have morphed out of the Goth and BDSM subcultures and was inspired and popularized by the writings of author Anne Rice, as well as by television shows like The Vampire Diaries and True Blood and movies like The Twilight Saga series and Interview with a Vampire.  Most recently, an excellent, well-researched book entitled Living Vampires:  Modern Tradition, Magic and Practice by author and entrepreneur Sean Wilde was published by Lewellyn Publishing.  This professionally written tome provides a comprehensive view of the ideas and practices by a noted member of this subculture and as such provides insights unavailable anywhere else.

Regarding online resources, an overall scholarly website researched, created, and published by Grinnell College is https://haenfler.sites.grinnell.edu/vampire-subculture/.  This website is an excellent introduction to the vampire subculture because it is highly organized and researched.  The site explores the intersection of fantasy, identity, and lifestyle choices, breaking down the social stigma and “moral panics” often perpetuated by mainstream media.  The subculture studied by Grinnell generally breaks the subculture into several distinct groups:

Sanguinarians:  Individuals who consume small, consensual amounts of human or animal blood, often relying on willing “donors.”

Psychic Vampires:  Those who absorb “pranic” or life-force energy from their environment, crowds, or willing individuals.

Lifestylers:  People drawn primarily to the gothic lifestyle, clothing, history, and symbolism.  Among these are the role players and  non-vampire followers of the subculture who just like to associate with the lifestyle.

The site is recommended for its organization, structure, accuracy of information and links to articles, books, media, and other online sources.  Other notable sites on the vampire subculture include:

Vamp Freaks:  A long-running digital staple for goth, industrial music, and alternative subculture fashion and networking.  https://vampfreaks.com/  Arranged by drop-down menus, its stated goal is to provide connections to “goths and alternative communities worldwide.  Talk music, share dark aesthetics, and explore forums built for outsiders.”

Vampire Realm:  Headquartered in New York and launched in 1984, making it one of the oldest groups associated with this subculture, Vampire Realm is an international network and information portal providing directories, lore, and resources for the global subculture.  The website claims to have “the world’s largest vampire database” with links to a variety of other related websites and social media.  https://vampirerealm.com/  Sadly, access to much of its content is by membership only, which limits its value to the casual observer.  It does provide links to a host of associations and events like commercial publishers, media, and alternative culture conventions of all kinds.

Vampires.com:  An informational resource presented in a dramatic, colorful format featuring short articles on real-life vampire history, local community houses, and subculture sociology, can be found at https://www.vampires.com/.

Father Sebastiaan’s Blog:  Managed by a prominent figure in the modern vampire culture and founder of the Endless Night Vampire Ball and featuring community updates and insights is located at https://www.fathersebastiaan.com/blog.  In addition to being an author and impresario of vampire events, Father Sebastiaan is an accomplished “fangsmith” who creates prosthetic fangs for aspiring vampires.  Topics covered include “Black Veils” which are philosophical guidelines and rules for modern practitioners and the vampire community, as well as articles on chaos magick and the vampire culture.