Bookmark: Look at this effin hipster

“…as time marches forward, hipsters seem to be quite adaptable. When they were first identified as a demographic, circa 1998, the two most dominant hipster aesthetics were twee—think Belle and Sebastian, sweater vests, and Ira Glass—and a white trash-chic epitomized by the tattoos and wifebeaters found in Vice magazine. (Greif referred to these two types as “non-aggressives” and “aggressives,” respectively.) Jump forward 10 years, and the latest wave of hipsters have their own trends—beards, “freak folk,” Depression-era chic—all of which communicate: “I take careful care to cultivate an aesthetic, by which I hope you’ll judge me.” The styles have changed, but the overall sensibility of the hipster remains intact.”

“First and foremost, hipsterism is about stuff. It’s the natural byproduct of a consumption-obsessed culture with a thriving middle class. The complete works of Johnny Cash on vinyl. An iPhone packed with apps. Thick-framed glasses without the lenses. Throw in an unwavering certainty that your tastes are superior to everyone else’s, and you’re on your way to establishing a hipster aesthetic.”

“The second element is pastiche, the hodgepodge blending of elements from pop culture to create a sensibility. Whether it be the goofy “post-punk-electro-blog-house” labels associated with hipster music, or the entire film career of Wes Anderson, pastiche is essential to hipsterdom.”

“Finally there’s irony, a knee-jerk way for hipsters to emotionally distance themselves from sincerely appreciating things. While the hipster’s ironic sensibility has always been the subject of ire, pretending to be disaffected isn’t exactly a novel concept among people who are “cool.” ”

thank you, thank you, thank you Robert Lanham

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“the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved… the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing.” – Jack Kerouac, On the Road

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3 thoughts on “Bookmark: Look at this effin hipster

  1. BB says:

    Audio from a 1959 comedy album called How To Speak Hip by Del Close and John Brent. They were mocking the Beat generation of pretentious poets and loners, but it seems pretty relevant still today.

    http://audio.skeyelab.com/howtospeakhip/

  2. Tobias Manderson-Galvin says:

    I’m in love with this one… http://unhappyhipsters.com/

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