On Nonconformism

A nonconformist is an individualist who is bereft of critical discernment, and is therefore incapable of evaluating artworks, trends, or philosophical positions on merit. As a substitute for critical ability, nonconformists retreat into an easy reaction against whatever is dominant or popular.

There are two main types of nonconformists. Subculture Nonconformists flock together in various groups and cliques, each with its own fairly rigid philosophy, distinctive style of dress, and list of preferred bands. Depending on the subculture, there may a number of films, artworks, books, and/or personages enshrined as particularly worthy of veneration by all true members of the subculture.

These groups are extremely intolerant of variation. Embracing emblems and practices of the dominant culture which the subculture seeks to subvert is particularly censurable (but n.b.: in certain subcultures, adoption of dominant culture emblems is permissible, so long as said adoption can be successfully presented as mocking or ironic). Members who adopt modes of expression not sanctioned by the group paradigm will be ostracized and ultimately expelled. Such excommunicants tend to shed all affiliation with their previous subculture. Most will then attempt to join a rival subculture of equal or greater marginality. A few will become - at least temporarily - Loner Nonconformists.

In contrast to the Subculture Nonconformist, Loner Nonconformists seek to cut themselves off from all group dynamics, whether dominant or marginal. The Loner Nonconformist strongly self-identifies as the "true nonconformist." To the Loner Nonconformist, Subculture Nonconformity is neither subversive nor rebellious, but is merely a retreat into an ultraorthodox conformism that is practiced on a smaller stage. The Loner Noncomformist regards Subculture Nonconformity as nothing more than a pathetic hobby: self-congratulatory, intellectually incestuous and devoid of moral heft. On the other hand, Loner Nonconformists see their own mechanical reaction against anything dominant or popular as a rigorous, austere philosophical stance.

Loner Nonconformists are solitary by choice. Their highly-opinionated nature, combined with the caustic manner in which they express their views and their general lack of social networking skills, provide additional reinforcements for this lifestyle choice.

There are two related types that are less common, but bear mentioning. The Loner Conformist is to all external appearances identical to the Loner Nonconformist, but has very different motives. The Loner Conformist has been drawn to the lifestyle not by any sincere feeling for noncomformism, but out of a wish to emulate a figure or figures who are greatly admired, and who are seen as having lived a life of solitary nonconformity. The Loner Conformist often sees himself or herself as one driven to create work in a similar mode to his or her hero(s) or heroine(s), and believes that shunning the world in like manner will be conducive to the production of like work. Other Loner Conformists have no particular desire to emulate the work of their role model, but rather are motivated by a wish to experience the admired figure's lifestyle.

The other related type is the Subculture Conformist. It is by no means known how rare or how common these are. Some experts maintain that most cliques identified as Subculture Nonconformist are in reality composed of Subculture Conformists to a greater or lesser degree. In practice, it would be almost impossible to devise a test to distinguish between the two. Therefore we will leave the question open.