Mainstream
Mainstream is, generally, the common current of
thought of the
majority. It is a term most often applied in the
arts (i.e., music, literature, and performance). This includes:
* something that is
ordinary or usual;
* something that is familiar to the
masses;
* something that is available to the general public.
As such, the mainstream includes all
popular culture, typically disseminated by
mass media. The opposite of the mainstream are
subcultures,
countercultures,
cult followings and
underground cultures.
Additionally,
Mainstream is sometimes a
codeword used for one's own actual
ethnocentric or
subculture point of view, especially when delivered in a
culture war speech.
Religiously, the
mainstream specifically includes those in the
majority opinion of theology specific to one's faith or
denomination. For example: Those within
Christianity who believe "
Jesus Christ (to be) the literal Son of God and co-equally divine with God" would be viewed as the mainstream or majority opinion within Christendom; while those who held that the
Messiah was a human prophet sent of God would be viewed as a
minority,
sectarian, or even
heretical.
Mainstream films can best be defined as commercial films that know a
wide release and play in first run theatres (A
movie theater that runs primarily mainstream film fare from the major film companies and distributors, during the initial release period of each film). Being sold at
Amazon.com or its affiliates can also be an indicator.
Hollywood movies are usually considered mainstream and
blockbusters are also mainstream films.
The boundary is vague. Mainstream suggests middle-of-the-road and implies
commercial viability, sometimes implying that the commercial viability is tantamount to a loss of artistic creativity.
The opposite of mainstream film may be
experimental film,
art film or
cult film.
Musically, mainstream music denotes music that is familiar to the masses, as for example
popular music,
pop music,
middle of the road music,
rock and roll music and some kinds of modern
rap music and
Nu metal music.
Mainstream pressure, through actions such as
peer pressure, can force individuals to
conform to the
mores of the group (e.g., an
obedience to the mandates of the
peer group). Some have stated that they see mainstream as the antithesis of
individuality.
Mainstreaming in education, also known as
inclusion, is the process of grouping disabled students with general
education students in the classroom. In theory, this method is supposed to bring up the students at lower levels while encouraging leadership roles from the higher level students. The difficulty of defining what "mainstream" is arises from the differences that parents and their children may have for what the word means.
