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.
Urban dictionary defines a “hipster” and I can’t help but respond to it. I’m not sure where this post will take me, but I’m intrigued to find out.
The greatest concentrations of hipsters can be found living in the Williamsburg, Wicker Park, and Mission District neighborhoods of major cosmopolitan centers such as New York, Chicago, and San Francisco respectively.
In Orlando, we have the Milk District and you can spot plenty of hipsters riding their bicycles instead of driving around downtown.
Although “hipsterism” is really a state of mind,it is also often intertwined with distinct fashion sensibilities. Hipsters reject the culturally-ignorant attitudes of mainstream consumers, and are often be seen wearing vintage and thrift store inspired fashions, tight-fitting jeans, old-school sneakers, and sometimes thick rimmed glasses…
You can get your own hipster thrifts at Dechoes (http://www.dechoesresale.com) in Coytown and College Park.
Despite misconceptions based on their aesthetic tastes, hipsters tend to be well educated and often have liberal arts degrees, or degrees in maths and sciences, which also require certain creative analytical thinking abilities.
If you’re a grad student, you’re already a prime candidate. Now all you have to do is spend your afternoons drinking rose and roobis tea at Stardust Video and Coffee while you work on your Communication Convergence discussion post. And whenever you need a break from all the research you’re doing for Theory, you can saunter over to the bar to include yourself in vivid conversation taking place about the cinematography in Moonrise Kingdom. Then to gain the awe of your conversation components, you can reference the obscure silent film from Kurjeshshan while possibly alluding to referencing it in you Communication Convergence research paper. This establishes you as an intellectual with elitist tastes.
Consequently many hipsters tend to have jobs in the music, art, and fashion industries…
[The next section just cuts us all too deep. So I’ll avert your eyes for a moment. Take that, Urbandic. You bully.]
Although hipsters are technically conformists within their own subculture, in comparison to the much larger mainstream mass, they are pioneers and leaders of the latest cultural trends and ideals…
A very relevant statement: “I stood by Lana when people tore her apart on SNL. SNL doesn’t even usually accept performers so early on in their careers. Now Blue Jeans is in a Nespresso commercial and her music appeared on Gossip Girl. I mean, I wet my pants, but I hope this doesn’t mean she’s mainstream now. I say as I subtly begin to lose interest in her…”
This phenomena also applies to music as well, as many bands have become successful and known to mainstream audiences only because hipsters first found and listened to them as early-adopters of new culture. Once certain concepts of fashion and music have reached mainstream audiences, hipsters move on to something new and improved.
Because of the rise of various online photo-blog and social networking sites, insights into urban hipster culture is reaching sheltered suburban audiences at an exponential rate.
“I deactivated my Facebook account.”
Cultural “norms” have been deconstructed by hipster culture as a whole.
“I started buying local food and I went vegan. I want my grandchildren to have clean lungs. My mantra is People over profits.”
Hipsterism is often dismissed as just an image thing by some, but the culture as a whole is effecting changes in society, leading to feelings of insecurity and resentment in people who are no longer a part of the cultural ruling class… Anti-hipster sentiment often comes from people who simply can’t keep up with social change and are envious of those who can.
At end of this blog, I feel like I’ve deflected Urban Dictionary’s attacks, by acknowledging first hand experience. And I have found that the life of a hipster is best self-reflected with the same whimsy as Portlandia. I love that show. Involuntarily I laugh, pause when they mention a book I want to read or a game I want to play, feel vulnerable. Then I’m engaged in the skit and can’t help laughing.
All quoted material comes from: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=hipster&defid=2705928
Except of course the “imagined” dialogue.