IMO the tension is a feature, not a bug. We (humans) put far too much emphasis on the current state (is Cobain a mainstream success or counter culture hero?). We need to focus on the change we're observing; Cobain was an alternative that we watched catch on and take over everyone with a pair of Doc Marten boots regardless if they were a punk or a sophmore at Duke. The tension exists in the change we are living within, and it does not move at a steady, universal state. I liken trying to decide "What is this?" to trying to stand still in a raging river. It doesn't really matter as the current churns past, with logs zipping along and rocky outcrops threatening. The "movement" either consumes itself (ex: Pop Music), is terminated prematurely (like Cobain) or consciously never lets itsef happen (ex: Nofx)

> So which is it? Was Cobain a big deal in the mainstream, or was he countercultural? I don't think you can have it both ways.

But why not? Result (huge sales, mainstream popularity) and process (not aiming at that goal, or even resenting ending up there) are entirely decoupled because the result is the sum of actions done by everyone else and only the process is the action of the person involved.

To be a big deal in the mainstream is about saturation and mass appeal.

To be countercultural is usually to be celebrated for the process/intent.

Entirely possible to hit both of those.

An even longer-lasting example: Radiohead repeatedly shifted directions after huge hits into more-and-more avant garde styles. But many of their songs kept ending up hugely popular regardless. Their intent was "let's do what we want to do, not just try to appease the lowest common denominator" - a classic "indie" sentiment. But it ended up appealing to huge numbers of people anyway, time after time. Even today's kids are picking them up in substantial amounts.