Sunday, March 21, 2010

Why people hate on hipsters

Do you know any hipsters? It seems that a “hipster” is kind of like “goth” in the fact that they are so alternative that their alternative lifestyle has now become mainstream. If that makes any sense. As Julia Plevin of the Huffington Post would say,
“the whole point of hipsters is that they avoid labels and being labeled. However, they all dress the same and act the same and conform in their non-conformity.”
So what makes someone a hipster? One of the trademarks is apparently that they are offended at being called “hipster.” A positive source stated that they “value independent thinking, counter-culture, progressive politics” and have “an appreciation of art and indie rock, creativity, intelligence and witty banter.” So why is there so much antagonism against hipsters?

Part of it is that many hipsters are the young, white upper and middle class who, in their desire to reject consumerism and the mainstream, have instead misappropriated a variety of retro styles without acknowledging the origins of those styles or ways of living. They put on a sort of pretense that they are above all others because they “just don’t care.” The irony is that they care too much about their “iconic, carefully created sloppy vintage look.” Critics of hipsters consider them smug and full of contradictions.

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