The words above are the Juggalo’s motto – A motto in which members of the underground subculture pledge an allegiance to themselves and other members of the community. A motto that represents a group who values family, including love, honor, unity, and strength.
But what is a Juggalo? A Juggalo is someone who is an extreme fan of the Insane Clown Posse group. They are known for their clown-like face paint, listening to horror- themed rap music, and expressing a tongue and cheek obsession with murder and violence, Juggalo’s believe heavily in non-conformity; however, it is their absurd behavior that has landed the deviant subculture a place in today’s society. Even their mascot the “Hatchetman” involves violence, it depicts a man running while carrying a hatchet.
Professor Ken Gelder’s book titled “Subcultures: Cultural Histories and Social Practices” talks about how nonconformity results from social dissatisfaction. Founding members of the ICP (Insane Clown Posse) Joseph Bruce and his brother Robert grew up in poverty during the 1980s. They received and ate donated food from their school and wore clothes from garage sales, however they weren’t ashamed of their low income status, and…show more content… However, before analyzing the subculture, it’s important to understand their connection (or lack thereof) to the mainstream dominant culture, and how the public shapes its perception of the group. Media theorist Dick Hebidge describes the “ideological effect” in which the media constructs a specific image or philosophy that shapes how people make sense of the world. (Hebdige 85). Juggalos’ challenge the conventional view of society by preaching non-conformity. While Juggalos are openly against the mainstream, as evident in their deviant dress and behavior, they don’t claim to be
