#penury

—noun

extreme poverty; destitution.

scarcity; dearth; inadequacy; insufficiency.

“Why not? What better reason for a drink than looming penury?”

Subculture

A subculture is a group of people within a cultural society that differentiates itself from the conservative and standard values to which it belongs, often maintaining some of its founding principles. Subcultures develop their own norms and values regarding cultural, political, and sexual matters. Subcultures are part of society while keeping their specific characteristics intact.

penury:

Extreme want or poverty; destitution.

Absence of resources; privation; indigence

scholastic:

Of or relating to schools; academic.

Overly subtle or pedantic.

tawdry:

Gaudy and cheap in nature or appearance.

Shameful or indecent.

indignant:

Wrathful; passionate; irate; feeling wrath, as when a person is exasperated by unworthy or unjust treatment, by a mean action, or by a degrading accusation.

Showing anger or indignation, especially at something unjust or wrong.

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Started reading a book that mentioned subcultures and cults, and I found it to be very interesting. The people in the subcultures indulged in very odd practices -- not odd because of the definition, odd because it didn't subvert from the norm at all. One of the practices were orgies. Though this is not a regular thing that most people do, it is a thing that MANY people do, so why it is seen as "outside of normal values"? Most religious practices throughout history have involved orgies, gang initiations even involves it. As we've seen with certain popularized folks in the media lately, Hollywood also practices it.....and frequently, so why and how is it a subculture? How can a regular practice for many people be a 'deviation from the norm'? Rich, poor, religious and secular alike all participate. I for one think knitting is a subculture, because, believe it or not, less people knit than have orgies. Lastly, the book I was reading was "Night Film" by Marisha Pessl. I started it the last day of September and never finished it because life.