Fringe culture is where the energy is before the mainstream adopts it. There are always unchartered waters to explore, and certain people go there becuase there is opportunity. Because these areas are new and alien, the mainstream doesn't realy understand them, so they remain fringe for a while, until somebody comes along and sells a palatable version to the mainstream, or it stays underground because nobody has figured out a way to make money from it.
2. Second, how do you establish commercial market?
Many people want to buy a cool, rebellious "look" but they don't want to buy the original philosophy behind it. Look at the way mainstream culture adopted hippies, punks, cyberpunks and grunge. Fashion designers, movie producers, advertisers all bought the "look" but not of the ideas behind them. They use the new "look" to sell the same old shit.
3. Is it possiible that altenative culture can succeed commercially in computer culture scene or new media scene?
Sure, just come up with something that can be useful or appealling to a large segment of the population. But once something becomes commercially successful, it can no longer be honestly labelled "alternative."
4. Third, why do you think that this computer culture have possibiltiies for you?
The computer culture has possibilties for me because many of the things I do involve computers: writing, graphic design, communication. It allows me to quickly try out lots of different possibilities.
Thanks!
Mark Frauenfelder
mark@well.com