Wow. There's a great portrait here, not just of the subjects but of the artist themself. The mixed-subculture couple, the way these groups are run reminds me a lot of my adventures in the nerd convention scene. There's a lot of people looking for meaning there, for something to be good at even if it's just being themselves.
I think the modern world is dehumanizing and alienating to a lot of people, and they're just struggling to try to find themselves - these subcultures, perfecting "the look" - are a way of feeling unique and special. They're a thing to have pride in. They're tribal in a way that's self-determined, making them both more welcoming and less prone to the kinds of charismatic capture that bring an end to "tribes". On the other hand, that makes them more ephemeral than blood-tribes - there's no permanent tie.
There's an interesting contrast with those blood-tribes, though. What happens when you leave? Leaving groups is common - questioning your very identity is something everyone should do, frequently. But it's also hard and painful. I think there's a lot in common with the people in this recent article about leaving cults: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16198465
Ultimately, I believe associating too strongly with an identity is really harmful, that you're vulnerable to both being manipulated and to losing your faith, in yourself and humanity. It's hard to prove, though; there's only anecdata, and much of that is dirtied by people trying desperately to convince themselves that they're okay and that if only everyone tried it they could see how great their cult is.
I think the modern world is dehumanizing and alienating to a lot of people, and they're just struggling to try to find themselves - these subcultures, perfecting "the look" - are a way of feeling unique and special. They're a thing to have pride in. They're tribal in a way that's self-determined, making them both more welcoming and less prone to the kinds of charismatic capture that bring an end to "tribes". On the other hand, that makes them more ephemeral than blood-tribes - there's no permanent tie.
There's an interesting contrast with those blood-tribes, though. What happens when you leave? Leaving groups is common - questioning your very identity is something everyone should do, frequently. But it's also hard and painful. I think there's a lot in common with the people in this recent article about leaving cults: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16198465
Ultimately, I believe associating too strongly with an identity is really harmful, that you're vulnerable to both being manipulated and to losing your faith, in yourself and humanity. It's hard to prove, though; there's only anecdata, and much of that is dirtied by people trying desperately to convince themselves that they're okay and that if only everyone tried it they could see how great their cult is.