@evan this definition from Meriam Webster is what I was thinking of for counterculture:
"a culture with values and mores that run counter to those of established society"
It doesn't say anything about being outside of society, and I've never thought of it that way. I've always thought of it as a counter example which is still inside society and shows a viable alternative. It's this definition and framing I had in mind.
For reference I went with somewhat counterculture.