Subcultures Reimagined

The re-immersion of alternative subcultures complements political resistance and the search for personal identity

Angelique Persails, Staff Reporter • December 4, 2025

Josh Miranda, Madeline Sirois, and Astro Carlyle

Local Bay Area band Polka Dot and show organizer Ava Ennis discuss their role in various local music scenes and dissect alternative genres such as punk, twee, emo and riot grrrl.

Producer/Director: Angelique Persails

Editors: Josh Miranda and Madeline Sirois

Audio: Astro Carlyle

About the Contributors

Angelique Persails, Staff Reporter

Angelique Persails (she/they) is a staff reporter for Xpress Magazine originally from Temecula, California. Persails is now in her final semester at SF State pursuing a bachelor’s degree in print and online journalism with a minor in communications. Passionate about reporting on local issues, arts and culture, with a concentration in music, she believes that the true meaning of journalism lies in how we serve our communities. Her writing has been published by Bad Wreck Media, an online music publication, where she reviews recently released music in her spare time.

Josh Miranda, Staff Reporter

Josh Miranda (he/him) is a staff reporter for Xpress Magazine. He grew up in the quiet beach towns of San Diego’s North County. After receiving an associate’s degree in film, television, and electronic media at Palomar College, he switched to journalism, realizing it combined his passions in writing and visual storytelling. Entering his final year at SF State, he hopes to emerge as one of the new-wave journalists, documenting the world in a real and engaging way. He primarily covers American culture and politics. Josh passes the time with music, playing Civilization IV or reading.

Madeline Sirois, Social Media and Engagement Editor

Madeline Sirois (she/her) is the social media and engagement editor for Xpress Magazine from Newington, Connecticut. She is a fourth-year student at SF State and, with a dream of designing costumes for TV and film, is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in apparel design and merchandising. She has created social media content for the University of San Francisco’s Division 1 athletic teams, as well as nonprofits throughout the city. Off the clock, you’ll find her watching “The Real Housewives” or scrolling through Facebook Marketplace for things she absolutely does need.