There’s an ever-evolving social scene that is becoming more and more mainstream. It has existed since the 1950’s, when rebels still had a cause and it wasn’t cool to be cool. The 21st century has now spawned their own version of “the hipster” (not to be confused with hippies) and has turned the definition into one of confusion and general disdain amongst peers of this generation.
The hipster persona breaks down as such:
On a random night of the week (it doesn’t really matter which night) the newest hot spot (that’s actually existed for years) is packed to capacity. The men (who seem to have all rolled out of the same bed) sport shaggy hair (that probably hasn’t been washed in d
ays, usually topped by a fedora or sagging beanie) and are dressed in women’s size two jeans (purchased liberally) and a plunging V-neck T-shirt (preferably from American Apparel) and/or “vintage” tee with some classic cartoon character or clever saying silk-screened on the front. They stand against the wall lightly clutching their half-empty can of PBR (Pabst Blue Ribbon beer) with a look of pure contempt penetrating from behind their non-prescription horned-rimmed glasses over anyone who is not like them.
All the while the ladies, though subsequently different, also tend to resemble each other, dressed in layers or mis-matched outfits that look like it took seconds to put together, but are actually carefully constructed ensembles, usually taking key styles from past decades and trying to pass them off as their own. Their hair, much like the guys, is unkept and likely held in place by a headband across the forehead (circa Olivia Newton John’s “Let’s Get Physical” 80’s music video). The lady hipster shares the same “I don’t care what you think of me” attitude as their male counterpart, but mixes in a snobbery arrogance when walking past “outsiders.”
Perhaps the only thing that “these people” have to offer greater society is to be the source of websites that seem to exploit the nonsensical shenanigans they engage in on a regular basis.
But to know a hipster, is to love a hipster? Doubtful.
It becomes a question of understanding, and whether or not these people wish to be understood. Perhaps they
behave in a way to keep people guessing about them, and that in turn is their true uniqueness. But if all that is ever expected of them is to the keep someone guessing, then how original are they to begin with. They begin to follow the idea that they must consistently come up with something more outrageous than their last behavior and in turn, how much of them is “true?”
Anyhow, what is there to understand in the first place? Hipsters don’t seem to have a solid stand on any social issue or associate with any school of thought. They only follow the latest “hot, new indie” band and socialize amongst each other in order to post pictures on social networks to showcase their fabulousness. Unlike the punks, the emos, the goths, etc., there is an air of openess and freedom
that radiates off of hipsters. This, in theory, is ideal, to not be strapped down to any one thing. But if all that is ever expected of them is the keep someone guessing, then how original are they to begin with.
Unsigned editorials represent the majority view of the Sundial editorial board and are not necessarily those of the journalism department. Other views on the opinion page are those of the individual writer.
Non-conformity in a social circle that produces identical “individuals” is something that will forever be desired. And with the endless circle of sociological theory in which the individual impacts the society while having the society impact the individual will forever keep everyone the same, and therefore it seems as though hipsters, whatever form they take, will continue to reproduce.
This, in the end, shouldn’t matter a single ounce to the modern-day hipster since no self-respecting hipster is willing to address himself as so. And perhaps, a true hipsters has already decided to stop reading this piece because it is no longer “in” to keep doing so.
