Whit Stillman's film
The Last Days of Disco has a rather intelligent, even thought-provoking, quote about yuppies. "Yuppie stands for 'young upwardly mobile professional'," a character says. "I wish we were yuppies. Young, upwardly mobile, professional. Those are
good things, not bad things." This character regards the term "yuppie," like I do the term "hipster": is being called one really such a bad thing?
Recently,
NPR ran a story about
the "hipsterfication of America." (Which strangely labels hipsters as people who shop at Plato's Closet, eat at Which Which and "buy cool-cat snuggle clothes at American Eagle." But I digress.) In it, the article notes an rather common belief: that "everyone hates hipsters, especially hipsters."
Naturally, the piece goes on to define what a "hipster" is, which seems to be a bit unnecessary by this point, but I'm going to quote it anyway: "The Urban Dictionary defines hipsters as 'a subculture of men and women typically in their 20s and 30s who value independent thinking, counter-culture, progressive politics, an appreciation of art and indie-rock, creativity, intelligence, and witty banter.'" I'd like to add "fashion-forward" in there somewhere, too. I don't think many would disagree with most of this definition. So... why is conforming to it a bad thing?
Perhaps people assume that hipsters are elitist snobs, which can be true. But I know plenty of video game nerds who are stuck up about their hobbies, and a number of bookworms who wrinkle their noses at "low brow" literature. However, in all three categories I know many more kind, open-minded people than jerks.
I think hipsters are pretty darn cool. I know lots of smart, socially active and creative people who fit the label perfectly. And they all usually dress fantastically while doing so. Perhaps some hipster fashion choices are over-the-top, but I'll take a progressive look over the Uggs + leggings + North Face hoodie formula any day.
I would love to be called a hipster, but frankly, I just don't know if I'm cool and/or stylish enough. Not that it matters, because my nice, accepting hipster friends like me anyways.
What do you think about hipsters? Are you one?Image Source Image Source Image Source
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Comments (35)
When someone is TRYING to be a hipster (which, let's face it, is probably 98% of hipsters), then yes, it is a bad thing to be a hipster. It's about as laughable as all those kids who forcefully tried to mould themselves into emo twats or scenesters. I happened to be a bit of a combo of emo and scenester, but this was a few years before it became a super popular trend. Had you asked me what those terms meant, I would have given you a totally blank look, or possibly one of confusion. And then a few years later, you see all those kids on Yahoo!Answers asking others "omigawwd how can I dress like a scene kid?" instead of just staying true to themselves. My style in grades 9 and 10 were about me growing up, about my personality evolving and about my outlook on life shifting. It wasn't about me seeing that that particular style was popular on Myspace or something and thus wearing it. I guess it was just, in hindsight, expressing the very confused nature of who I was, I was just kind of soaking up anything bright, dark, or loud that helped create a personality for me when mine was yet to have completely developed.
I think that some people would potentially view my style as having some hipster influences, but I'd actually say it's more of an indie style influence. But I don't TRY and be that way, I just happen to love those styles. I love quirky and unique pieces, but I also love more delicate pieces. I also really like more dressed up pieces. I've got a very varied style. I'd never consider myself a hipster, and I think that most people would probably agree that I'm not because I don't put off that vibe. Much like this very attractive young man I had my history class with this semester, he wore an awesome hat and often a very dapper dressy vest. And it totally suited his personality and did not at all seem like he was trying to find clothing to fit into a preconceived stereotype.
The first guy in that above picture just looks like an idiot. It kind of reminds me of the horribleness that was showed in a post here a while ago of that weird emo-hipster boy band.
Then I guess I've been a hipster since I was born because it really does sound like me in a lot of ways (the definition of a hipster anyhow), but it's just me at this point. Labels or not.
I'm a proud "hipster" and I approve this Lovelyish post :)
This hipsters I've known have been very self centered, spoiled, and annoying. That being said I'm sure I just know a bad batch, and I'm sure I can't judge everyone who is a hipster to be that way.
@ashleynicole - I agree with the fact that it really depends on whether you're not you're trying to fit into a mold, or if you're just being yourself.
The thing is, *everyone* should value independent thinking, counter-culture, progressive politics, an appreciation of art and indie-rock, creativity, intelligence, and witty banter. I don't understand why this description and label is seen as anything special. And the people who fit this label often act like we should be proud of them, like they are above the rest. But it's usually just an act. Most people in American culture at least, aren't raised to be this way, and the fact that so many people I know suddenly seem to fit into the label, but won't admit that is what they are doing, it's just all so fake. It's phony and that's why I hate it. I'd rather be myself and be real than be some pseudo persona.
People who negatively and intentionally try to be a hipster to be cool are the ones who make hipsters look bad. Those people are generally annoying and are attention seekers. Those who are generally hipsters and attracted to indie stuff are actually pretty cool and I can relate to them a lot. I like indie music, especially punk music from the 70s.
And I agree with @MissAshley. I like the "hipster mindset" of those who are genuinely hipsters. I appreciate much of that stuff.
Hipsters are annoying as hell. This is because typically, a hipster is one who values independent thinking, counter-culture, progressive politics, an appreciation of art and indie-rock, creativity, intelligence, and witty banter because it's cool to.
I'm fucking tired of cliques. We should grow up and leave those in high school.
I didn't really read. but I saw "which wich" and I had to comment: Elviswich is awesome :)
im a hipster and proud of it..just get out of your system while you are young
I'd rather be myself in the "Uggs + leggings + North Face hoodie" than someone I'm not in clothes that aren't my style and listening to music I don't like. But to each his own I guess...
The hipsters in my area usually have B.O : / So it could definitely be a "dirty" word!!!
my friend called me a hipster. I honestly didn't get what it was before I read this.
I think "trying to be a hipster" is just like trying to dress fashionably, or trying to dress preppy or whatever else. I agree that some people try too hard and become very pretentious, but that seems to be the hipster stereotype. It's annoying because people who dress a certain way or whatever get that label, even though they're not at all pretentious or anything, and it holds a negative meaning now. Why not call people pretentious if that's what they are, in stead of slapping a term like hipster on them and making it seem like everyone in that group is the same?
With that being said, the whole hipster thing hasn't really hit too hard where I live, or not the label at least. I think a lot of people where I live dress in a way that Americans would call hipster, but it's quite normal here and doesn't have the same stigma attached. My brother who is very Americanized (my family lived in NY for some years) sometimes jokes about me being a hipster, mostly because I'm very into academics (I'm studying for a masters in gender studies) but also because of some trivial things, like how many books I own or my array of ugly sweaters.
Austin is the city for a lot of things. Live music, weirdos (which is a term we take as a compliment), and hipsters. And I would say the only insufferable hipsters are the like, 14-17 year olds who are overcompensating, and that has nothing to do with being a hipster. It's just how kids can be at that age. So, as a proud hipster I appreciate surrounding myself with a variety of different kinds of people, but I'm not afraid to say what I am.
HIPSTERS ARE BURGLARS OF CULTURE FROM THE PAST 40 YEARS
thar, i sed it.
How are you an independent thinker if you just think like all other hipsters? How are you creative if you just dress like all other hipsters? I also find it ironic that hipsters consider themselves to be "counter culture" when they are actually very mainstream.
The ironic thing is that for a group of such "independent thinkers" you can typically guess with a fairly high degree of accuracy what a hipster's political views will be, what kind of music they will like, and what kind of movies they watch without even talking to them first. Now, that's independent thinking for you.
Dislike hipsters greatly.
I hate labels. But my friends call me hipster for what reason I don't know. Because I am vegetarian? And I like wearing lots of bracelets?
i love the hipster pictures of the trio ! :)
The problem will being a self-proclaimed hipster or labeling yourself as anything really in that similar sphere is you have to ask "why". It's one thing to just be yourself and fall under a label. It's a whole other thing to aspire to fall under a label. I think the problem some people have with a lot of "hipsters" is that they aren't being genuine, just doing stuff so they can feel like they are "cool". I think it is the same issue people used to (still?) have the goth trend or scene kids.
I personally think certain things are dumb, and they usually are more attributed to hipsters. I cannot stand people who wear big non-prescription nerd glasses. It's just something that has always bothered me, and I think people who wear them look like well...idiot hipsters. On a less fashion note, I always don't appreciate when people think they are sooo cool because of the music they listen to, or what have you. You like what you like, I'm cool with that, but doesn't mean your music is better than my music.
This article should have been about how the term hipster originated from the cool jazz cats in the 40's and it was really important for African American civil rights! That's a way cooler reason to wanna be a hipster.
Hipster is just another catch-phrase that people throw out when they think something or someone is weird. Remember how people used the terms "emo" and "emo kid" to describe people they thought were weird, depressed, or both? Same shit.
Okay, you have clearly not spent time around hipsters. Go to Emerson college to see what I mean. Hipsters are BY NATURE arrogant and pretentious, especially about the things they found first - like bands and fashion trends. This negative connotation is woven into the definition of the word "hipster," which is why it's a negative thing. In its original context, there is absolutely nothing good about being a hipster, even if you are one, because nobody wants to be outed for conforming to nonconformity! That's too conformist!
The idea of the "hipster" itself has gone mainstream, THANKFULLY slowly killing the idea of the hipster as we knew it in, say, 2010. But, unfortunately, the snobby thinking of the hipster lives on. May I point out that hipster wear all the same clothes. They all shop at Urban Outfitters. They all used to wear those Arab black and white scarves. They all smoke. They all do the same things and are as unoriginal as the Uggs + Northface + leggings people. At least those people can be nice depending on their personality, whereas all hipsters are arrogant by the very nature of the word. You know, people scoffing at you and saying, "I knew about .... BEFORE if was cool," or "Oh, YOU probably wouldn't have heard of them..."
If someone is trendy and not a hipster douchebag, they're not a hipster. If they make their own independent decisions and don't simply confirm to nonconformity because it's the hip thig to do...ie ride a fixed gear bike, then cool, they're probably just a person who makes their own decisions about things. That's respectable. But being a hipster is never.
This will happen when you're forced to live with a million of them. I was like, "WHY THE FUCK CAN'T SOMEONE JUST LISTEN TO KISS 108 AND WEAR SWEATPANTS FOR FIVE MINUTES!" You're looked at as a mainstream ogre if you do these things even casually. Death Cab for Cutie is too mainstream and you'll get scoffed at...it was Animal Collective then Vampire Weekend and Passion Pit, and then those passed their time, too.
FUCK HIPSTERS