If you consider yourself the least bit cool but definitely not a hipster, you should read this. Totally put into words what many have been feeling for a long time.
First off, I’m not really cool. Not that I don’t want to be or that I dint ever try to be. I just don’t have the time or motivation to keep being cool. I used to be cooler but the older I get the less I care. I think that’s true for most people. With exception to Bono. But I did have some time to read the article and here are my thoughts.
Hippos or hipsters… Does it matter?
Hasn’t there always been hipsters? Be they defined by music, fashion or social philosophy; from the 80’s hair band rockers to the greasers of yesteryear, we all like to fit in and to be identified with something. The need to belong… The writer of this article is a hipster in his own neo-hipster sorta way. He wants you to agree with him and say to yourself, “Now this guy knows what he is talking about. He is so hip!” We all want to be a part of the social or intellectual elite! It’s human nature. It’s not fair to just pick on teens and twenty somethings and say, “See these kids? They got it all wrong!” Of course they do! They’re kids! They want to find out who they are and they want to be know. Nothing is innocent! Heck! Even the most sincere social activists can be cast under the label of hipster if they have any affinity for fashion or transient music trends. True, most people are completely shallow and void of any quest for meaning in their trendy lives. But many do desire meaning as well. They just don’t know where to look!
What I find ironic about this article is it’s false notion that it may be above the pervasive effects of pop culture and media. Thousands of “hipsters” will read this article and begin to chant their new hipster slogan, “Down with the Hipster!” Then we will be the generation of the Neo-Hipsters!
It’s the desire to belong to our society yet to be truly above it. Nobody wants to be on the fringe of society. Unless they don’t wish to be the subjects lengthy scene articles… or to be seen at all? We should look to the obscure and marginalized of our culture, men and women of true character. The social rejects. People who really don’t care what you think. They might not like good music or know what was written in the latest issue of Adbusters Magazine. Cause really… They don’t care.
Do hipsters signal the end of western civilization? If you define western civilization as more than just fashion and trends in pop culture… no. They are just more of the same. Western civilization will always have its revolutionaries and true counter cultures challenging the statuesque. But it will never be the majority and it will never be found in this scene or that. It will be found in free thinkers and individuals who truly desire meaning. And they will always be outnumbered!
Hurray! Comments. And a good one at that. I agree with you, except I would ask… who are the true counter cultures now? I see none. And the thing about hipsters that really gets me is their lack of belief in anything and thus their lack of contribution to anything in society. Maybe it’s counter culture to get a job, get married, have kids and not muck everything up really bad? If so than thousands of counter culturalists are going unnoticed, but I feel like the brand of apathy in america today is the brand of a civilization that has passed it’s peak. I can’t see progress from here but downward personally. Wanna move to New Zealand with us? haha.
Never been to New Zealand but I’m up for braving whatever cultures exist outside the U.S. at this point. And I’m not a big fan of hipsters or scenesters or whatever you wnat to call them really either but I just think we have always had and always will have the equivalent of the hipster. They are the young and impressionable youth and some of them are my friends. I laugh at their obsessions with style and “culture talk” but they are really interesting and nice kids below the facade. Besides, most “counter cultures” always end up becoming a fad anyway. The current fad is just all the so called countercultures combined. The thing is, if we really want to see social change we can’t look to counter cultural trends. Change occurs in the hearts of individuals no matter their fashion or taste in music. We need to look to truth. Forget about trends.
Philippians 4:8 “…whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.”
Personally, I think the true counterculture would be Christians who actually take the Word of God seriously and live in a way that truly is counter to our frivolous American culture! Don’t worry those in the scene around you are doing. Live with conviction yourself! Others may follow…
I totally agree. For the Christian these questions are meaningless, we already believe in something, we have a reason to hope and to work and to live. It’s the world at large that’s frustrating, but then again, how is that different than ever before? Totally. Personally, I’m doing my best to live with conviction and I think you are too! I can’t say I feel cooler as a wedding photographer than a music producer in Seattle, but my life is about God, my wife and doing things that matter now and it feels amazing. Everything is for a greater cause, building God’s kingdom and adding to the rebel few that don’t make a mess of their whole life and family. Feels more punk rock than punk rock anymore. (seriously, having a healthy marriage is definitely more punk than going to urban outfitters and buying a Posies shirt)
[...] Hipsters are ______. [...]
“Hipsters are amusing.”
First off, I’m not really cool. Not that I don’t want to be or that I dint ever try to be. I just don’t have the time or motivation to keep being cool. I used to be cooler but the older I get the less I care. I think that’s true for most people. With exception to Bono.
But I did have some time to read the article and here are my thoughts.
Hippos or hipsters… Does it matter?
Hasn’t there always been hipsters? Be they defined by music, fashion or social philosophy; from the 80’s hair band rockers to the greasers of yesteryear, we all like to fit in and to be identified with something. The need to belong… The writer of this article is a hipster in his own neo-hipster sorta way. He wants you to agree with him and say to yourself, “Now this guy knows what he is talking about. He is so hip!” We all want to be a part of the social or intellectual elite! It’s human nature. It’s not fair to just pick on teens and twenty somethings and say, “See these kids? They got it all wrong!” Of course they do! They’re kids! They want to find out who they are and they want to be know. Nothing is innocent! Heck! Even the most sincere social activists can be cast under the label of hipster if they have any affinity for fashion or transient music trends. True, most people are completely shallow and void of any quest for meaning in their trendy lives. But many do desire meaning as well. They just don’t know where to look!
What I find ironic about this article is it’s false notion that it may be above the pervasive effects of pop culture and media. Thousands of “hipsters” will read this article and begin to chant their new hipster slogan, “Down with the Hipster!” Then we will be the generation of the Neo-Hipsters!
It’s the desire to belong to our society yet to be truly above it. Nobody wants to be on the fringe of society. Unless they don’t wish to be the subjects lengthy scene articles… or to be seen at all? We should look to the obscure and marginalized of our culture, men and women of true character. The social rejects. People who really don’t care what you think. They might not like good music or know what was written in the latest issue of Adbusters Magazine. Cause really… They don’t care.
Do hipsters signal the end of western civilization? If you define western civilization as more than just fashion and trends in pop culture… no. They are just more of the same. Western civilization will always have its revolutionaries and true counter cultures challenging the statuesque. But it will never be the majority and it will never be found in this scene or that. It will be found in free thinkers and individuals who truly desire meaning. And they will always be outnumbered!
Hurray! Comments. And a good one at that. I agree with you, except I would ask… who are the true counter cultures now? I see none. And the thing about hipsters that really gets me is their lack of belief in anything and thus their lack of contribution to anything in society. Maybe it’s counter culture to get a job, get married, have kids and not muck everything up really bad? If so than thousands of counter culturalists are going unnoticed, but I feel like the brand of apathy in america today is the brand of a civilization that has passed it’s peak. I can’t see progress from here but downward personally. Wanna move to New Zealand with us? haha.
Never been to New Zealand but I’m up for braving whatever cultures exist outside the U.S. at this point. And I’m not a big fan of hipsters or scenesters or whatever you wnat to call them really either but I just think we have always had and always will have the equivalent of the hipster. They are the young and impressionable youth and some of them are my friends. I laugh at their obsessions with style and “culture talk” but they are really interesting and nice kids below the facade. Besides, most “counter cultures” always end up becoming a fad anyway. The current fad is just all the so called countercultures combined. The thing is, if we really want to see social change we can’t look to counter cultural trends. Change occurs in the hearts of individuals no matter their fashion or taste in music. We need to look to truth. Forget about trends.
Philippians 4:8 “…whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.”
Personally, I think the true counterculture would be Christians who actually take the Word of God seriously and live in a way that truly is counter to our frivolous American culture! Don’t worry those in the scene around you are doing. Live with conviction yourself! Others may follow…
I totally agree. For the Christian these questions are meaningless, we already believe in something, we have a reason to hope and to work and to live. It’s the world at large that’s frustrating, but then again, how is that different than ever before? Totally. Personally, I’m doing my best to live with conviction and I think you are too! I can’t say I feel cooler as a wedding photographer than a music producer in Seattle, but my life is about God, my wife and doing things that matter now and it feels amazing. Everything is for a greater cause, building God’s kingdom and adding to the rebel few that don’t make a mess of their whole life and family. Feels more punk rock than punk rock anymore. (seriously, having a healthy marriage is definitely more punk than going to urban outfitters and buying a Posies shirt)
Right on!