Hipster State of Mind
So something that has bothered me quite a bit as of late is the blind usage of the term hipster. Or maybe more accurately, its true lack of a definition.
Now I’m no angel. I’ve thrown the term around myself. I’m usually one of the first people to call my dear friend Beth a hipster, probably more for the reaction she will give. But do I believe she is one? Hardly. From the picture above, I’ve been called a hipster or slightly less insulting as having “hipster glasses”. Do I consider myself a hipster? Hardly, but lets examine what it is that makes someone a hipster.
The definitions on Urban Dictionary and Wikipedia are both pretty similar, so I’ll just post Urban’s:
“Hipsters are a subculture of men and women typically in their 20’s and 30’s that value independent thinking, counter-culture, progressive politics, an appreciation of art and indie-rock, creativity, intelligence, and witty banter.”
Outside of maybe progressive politics (why so many fiscal republican friends Eric?) this describes about 98% of my homies and homegirls. Now here is a snippet from a Huffington Post article written by Julia Plevin that is probably closer to what most people think of as hipsters:
“[The] whole point of hipsters is that they avoid labels and being labeled. However, they all dress the same and act the same and conform in their non-conformity to an iconic carefully created sloppy vintage look.”
Now that’s more like it. The only ones really worth calling hipsters are the ones who proclaim it for themselves. She also points out that:
"[The] definition of ‘hipster’ remains opaque to anyone outside this self-proclaiming, highly-selective circle."
So basically it’s to be defined by those on the inside. They typically remain undefined by definition, if that makes sense. Or the flipside is that people will evolve a never-ending list of things they can attribute to hipster culture. Is it for funsies or contempt? I tend to not mind the former, jest is jest in my book. It’s when it happens with the latter that can be annoying. Here are some generalizations I’ve noticed more often:
- PBR drinking
- Horned Rimmed Glasses
- Flannel
- Shirts with Catchphrases
- Shirts with Old Pop Culture
- Vintage Clothing
- Record Collections
- Mustaches or Unkempt Beards
- Bike Transportation
- Converse
- Ironic Detachment
To those keeping score at home, I believe I registered 8 to 9 of these things. Though I don’t know that any of my friends would seriously label me a hipster. But you combine that with the fact that I value intelligence, like foreign and independent films, and like Beirut.
I must be a hipster.
Well then, as my next order of business, I will add to the list of things that I like, to help you expand the definition.
- Improvisational Theater
- The movie Gigli
- All Replying to Emails
- Solitaire (Free Cell or Klondike)
- Fruit Snacks (looking at you gushers)
- Metro Transit
- Modern Family
- Water
- Laughing Pictures
- Swearing
If you liked any of these things, guess what? You’re a Hipster too. If you actually enjoyed the movie Gigli (like I did and can explain why if I need to) you could be King of the Hipsters. Wait no, Hipsters need a leadership name that is less mainstream. The ArchHispter or Fonzie of the Hipster Nation, maybe?
I guess that I just think it’s a silly thing to stereotype, or to want/not want to be a part of. Everyone has his or her likes and dislikes. Far be it from me, or you, to decide what makes or breaks hipsterdom. This all said I’ve never been to Williamsburg. So maybe I’m the asshole for writing this when I’m going to have to recant the whole thing later when my Richard M. Nixon fears of the unknown come crashing back at me. Until then, I’m just going to sit here in my horn-rimmed glasses, with my vintage UNC jersey (Ed Cota baby), crack open a tall boy and post this to Tumblr.
Hail Hipsters!