Friday, August 8, 2008
OD on Hipsters...
Personal
"...have become shameless clichés of a class of individuals that seek to escape their own wealth and privilege by immersing themselves in the aesthetic of the working class."
"Hipsterdom is the first “counterculture” to be born under the advertising industry’s microscope, leaving it open to constant manipulation but also forcing its participants to continually shift their interests and affiliations. Less a subculture, the hipster is a consumer group – using their capital to purchase empty authenticity and rebellion. But the moment a trend, band, sound, style or feeling gains too much exposure, it is suddenly looked upon with disdain. Hipsters cannot afford to maintain any cultural loyalties or affiliations for fear they will lose relevance. An amalgamation of its own history, the youth of the West are left with consuming cool rather that creating it. "
"We are a lost generation, desperately clinging to anything that feels real, but too afraid to become it ourselves. We are a defeated generation, resigned to the hypocrisy of those before us, who once sang songs of rebellion and now sell them back to us. We are the last generation, a culmination of all previous things, destroyed by the vapidity that surrounds us. The hipster represents the end of Western civilization – a culture so detached and disconnected that it has stopped giving birth to anything new."
"Hipsterdom is the first “counterculture” to be born under the advertising industry’s microscope, leaving it open to constant manipulation but also forcing its participants to continually shift their interests and affiliations. Less a subculture, the hipster is a consumer group – using their capital to purchase empty authenticity and rebellion. But the moment a trend, band, sound, style or feeling gains too much exposure, it is suddenly looked upon with disdain. Hipsters cannot afford to maintain any cultural loyalties or affiliations for fear they will lose relevance. An amalgamation of its own history, the youth of the West are left with consuming cool rather that creating it. "
"We are a lost generation, desperately clinging to anything that feels real, but too afraid to become it ourselves. We are a defeated generation, resigned to the hypocrisy of those before us, who once sang songs of rebellion and now sell them back to us. We are the last generation, a culmination of all previous things, destroyed by the vapidity that surrounds us. The hipster represents the end of Western civilization – a culture so detached and disconnected that it has stopped giving birth to anything new."
to read the entire go here....
i must agree with most of his points on how this generation is pretty much a copy of a copy of a copy [of one another.] and reading this, i thought of thousands of faces that fit into this "hipster" category (& im sure you can to.) i mean, there are some others that just like to chill and hang out at clubs who just happen to possess attire that are considered "in." but despite that fact, we cannot dismiss the reality of this generation all becoming clones of one another... or rather shall i say army? as haddow was explaining... and let me quote..
"Take a stroll down the street in any major North American or European city and you’ll be sure to see a speckle of fashion-conscious twentysomethings hanging about and sporting a number of predictable stylistic trademarks: skinny jeans, cotton spandex leggings, fixed-gear bikes, vintage flannel, fake eyeglasses and a keffiyeh"
and as im reading this, i look down and i began to realize that this article applies to me as i was there reading an article from adbusters and wearing the epitome of what is deemed as total hipster wear: a vintage flannel and black skinny jeans. sure, i will admit that i might be a perfect example of this epidemic but im not as bad as others, you have to admit. most people would never even admit to being a product of hipsterdom but thats because they are self-absorbed with taking pictures at every kickback they go to, wear unappealing headbands, and have faux glasses attached to their "how-to-be-cool" faces. and as i feel ashamed and retarded for subconsciously following a trend, i dont regret dressing the way i do because really, i wear the same thing everyday and shouldnt be judged by my lack of originality and laziness. i wanted to say more things but... i cant think of anything. all i can do is claim that i dont have originality and style, but at the same time admit that i am not like those girls who say this to seem like a "know-it-all" or "insightful" or be "faux cool." (haha, wouldnt they really though?) really, there is no way winning this argument...
p.s. sorry if i offended anybody who is like this. i was actually thinking of two particular people that are the epitome of fake-hipsters.
1 critiques :
I AM OFFENDED! NAH, I AM JUST KIDDING. OK, CAPS LOCK OFF.
ARG! this article...oh man! i really have to agree as well. it's always that new band that feels like the hot new thing, plus it's underground. it's effing repetitive to the point that it kills me when an "underground" band sees anything that seems like the light of day, they're dropped and condemned as sellouts and "so yesterday." i have to admit, i know one to many underground bands that i like for the fact that no one knows them. it just seems like underground has become the new mainstream. i always find myself saying "oh, you've never heard of (insert obscure band name here)?" and sometimes i don't mind saying it because i like recomending stuff like that. but there are those moments that happen more often than i like to where i drop a name simply to look cool. it's freakin' dopey that i think for some reason, knowing some unknowns will get me some props. it's ridiculous. but yeah, it's sad that we're dragged in this whirlwind of BS dictated to us by the powers that be. and it's like we're all rebels for the sake of rebellion, protestors that protest because someone said "here, take this sign and mask and go for it." we have to think for ourselves, and to do that we have to wean ourselves off of that idea that we must be "original," or original according to what has been dictated as original. i can't say for certain that i follow what is considered hipster fashion, but i do know i sometimes act like one. it's a flaw i'd like to rectify, but i feel like self flagellation won't do it this century. well, i'm really gonna try to follow your genius work from now on haha. not that i'm saying that i don't, but now it's gonna be one of my home tabs so i won't forget to check up on you from time to time. anyways, see ya!
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