Meet the Shamate, China’s Most Ridiculed Subculture

As China’s megalopolises burst with newly-arrived people from the country, a new subculture has taken shape among young people who can only find work in lower-paying urban jobs.  Known as  shamate (a Chinese transliteration of “smart”) . they’ve created a style that’s weird mix of Goth, glam, punk and anime. Those into shamate are ridiculed by those in urban areas who have done better financially.  They’re looked upon as backwards country posers playing some sort of silly game.  But the shamate don’t care.  It’s actually pretty fascinating. Read more about shamate kids here and here.