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.

In Religion

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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.

In Film

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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.

In Music

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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.

In Sociology

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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

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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.

Mainstream | Mainstream | Mainstream | Мейнстрим | Mainstream