What’s a Hipster?
Hipsters. I know one when I see one, but I never could explain who they are and what they represent. Hipsters love that indie music scene, wear black rim glasses, drink Pabst Blue Ribbon, fit into tight clothes they probably got at the Salvation Army or a thrift store. But in the end, why do hipsters act and look like hipsters?
So I went to Wikipedia and I found that some people can’t seem to define hipster philosophy either.
Elise Thompson, an editor for the LA blog LAist argues that “people who came of age in the 70s and 80s punk rock movement seem to universally hate ‘hipsters’”, which she defines as people wearing “expensive ‘alternative’ fashion[s]“, going to the “latest, coolest, hippest bar…[and] listen[ing] to the latest, coolest, hippest band.” Thompson argues that hipsters “… don’t seem to subscribe to any particular philosophy… [or] …particular genre of music.” Instead, she argues that they are “soldiers of fortune of style” who take up whatever is popular and in style, “appropriat[ing] the style[s]” of past countercultural movements such as punk, while “discard[ing] everything that the style stood for.”[9]
Wow, that’s harsh. I think for the most part, hipsters do incorporate some philosophy. It’s like hipsters are the SparkNotes of the various youth and young adults movements of the last half of 20th century–an amalgamation of hippie, yuppie, indie, and beatnik without much devotion to a particular movement. Here’s a breakdown…
- Hippie: Hates war and most people in power.
- Yuppie: Wants money and expensive stuff, like iPods.
- Indie: Embraces the indie music and film culture.
- Beatnik: Likes art and artists in general, including Warhol-style pop art.
I should probably add elitist to that too. “Oh, you like [popular alternative rock band here]? I liked them when they just started 10 years ago when I was their only fan.”
Another question: Is Bach a hipster? He’s getting close. Which leads me to think there are different levels of hipster status.
Level 1: Wears “ironic” shirts, usually from Threadless.com
Level 2: Add super tight jeans and listens to alternative music and independent rock while rejecting similar sounding, but very popular groups.
Level 3: Add old-school type shoes and hoodie. Sports a 1960s style hairdo. Rejects commercial radio and embraces public radio. Drinks old American swill beer (i.e. Pabst).
Level 4: Adds some plaid shirts into the wardrobe, black rim glasses, and maybe a mustache. Starts a organic, vegetarian diet.
Level 5: Commits to tattoos, like a bold star on the wrist. Can be seen riding a fixed-gear bike. Lives in a urban neighborhood.
Bach’s at Level 2…maybe 2.5.
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February 25th, 2009 at 12:38 am
I am NOT a hipster!
Although I did recently remove my car antenna because 97.1 FM talk turned into a music station….
February 25th, 2009 at 9:15 am
I think that’s kind of the point. You’re not quite there yet. Don’t worry though. At your rate of progression, you’ll be a hipster in about a decade. Just in time to be the next Rodney on the ROQ! [cue drums]
February 25th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
The only reason I would not call Bach a hipster is that he’s almost superhero-like, separating the music snob side from the mild-mannered nerd that we see every day.
The only giveaways are his obvious devotion to Threadless. However, a single pair of black-rimmed glasses would reveal his secret identity and elevate him to pseudo-hipster.
March 11th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
I fit most of those descriptions (except the fixed gear bike… does my beach cruiser count!?), but I don’t feel like I’m a “hipster.”