Super article. A bit cynical in its scope but rather spot-on as far as the cultural impact of a hipster scene goes, especially in Toronto. Thankfully, I'm too old to bother with the fashion and the pining for acceptance. 😉
I found this excerpt to be quite amusing:
"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. The cultural zeitgeists of the past have always been sparked by furious indignation and are reactionary movements. But the hipster’s self-involved and isolated maintenance does nothing to feed cultural evolution. Western civilization’s well has run dry. The only way to avoid hitting the colossus of societal failure that looms over the horizon is for the kids to abandon this vain existence and start over."
Originally posted by darvlayThat was all outlined a few years back in a book called, "The Power Sell" PB6 has a copy if you are so inclined.
Super article. A bit cynical in its scope but rather spot-on as far as the cultural impact of a hipster scene goes, especially in Toronto. Thankfully, I'm too old to bother with the fashion and the pining for acceptance. 😉
I found this excerpt to be quite amusing:
"Hipsterdom is the first “counterculture” to be born under the advertising industr ...[text shortened]... at looms over the horizon is for the kids to abandon this vain existence and start over."
Originally posted by Bosse de NageAgreed. Look at all the little girls who want to grow up and be Hannah Montana.
"We’ve reached a point in our civilization where counterculture has mutated into a self-obsessed aesthetic vacuum. So while hipsterdom is the end product of all prior countercultures, it’s been stripped of its subversion and originality."
http://www.adbusters.org/magazine/79/hipster.html
Well?
Originally posted by Bosse de NageWell what?
"We’ve reached a point in our civilization where counterculture has mutated into a self-obsessed aesthetic vacuum. So while hipsterdom is the end product of all prior countercultures, it’s been stripped of its subversion and originality."
http://www.adbusters.org/magazine/79/hipster.html
Well?
This goes back to my point about how the clothes a band wears on stage only matters to people who THINK it matters. It doesn't REALLY matter.
Look, there will always be a segment of society that wants to be cool, to fit in, to have friends. And to do it, they rebel against conformity in a highly conforming way....ie, they all look basically the same. (how many of you bought those ugly ass aviator sunglasses when everyone else started to wear them...)
It's a perfect irony that gets lost on these people.
INDIVIDUALITY
"Always remember that you are unique....just like everybody else"
Originally posted by Bosse de NageThat is very true, although there is absolutely nothing countercultural about hipsters. They embody everything that is vapid and false about human socialisation. They're so cultural that they are a parody of culture (in the sense of the word other than the one used as the title of this forum). I feel sorry for them, though. It must suck to be unable to divorce aesthetic experiences from their social trappings -- put on some music for a hipster sometime and watch the inevitable look of sneering puzzlement on their face as they desperately and compulsively write a self-consciously cynical album review in their head in hopes of determining whether or not they should like it.
"We’ve reached a point in our civilization where counterculture has mutated into a self-obsessed aesthetic vacuum. So while hipsterdom is the end product of all prior countercultures, it’s been stripped of its subversion and originality."
http://www.adbusters.org/magazine/79/hipster.html
Well?
Originally posted by ChronicLeakyI am reminded of this article:
That is very true, although there is absolutely nothing countercultural about hipsters. They embody everything that is vapid and false about human socialisation. They're so cultural that they are a parody of culture (in the sense of the word other than the one used as the title of this forum). I feel sorry for them, though. It must suck to be ...[text shortened]... cynical album review in their head in hopes of determining whether or not they should like it.
http://www.theonion.com/content/news/pitchfork_gives_music_6_8
Originally posted by darvlayyEAH, BUT THESE GIRLZ ARE CONSUMING SOMEONE ELSE'S DREAM, or what some ad man thinks their dreams should be...the same as all those suburban kids who go to the Maryiin Manson Superstore, I mean, Hot Topic. Its all related.
This example is about as far from "hipster culture" as can be.
Originally posted by der schwarze RitterIndeed. It makes me wonder what kids ever dreamt about before the days of advertising and marketing.
yEAH, BUT THESE GIRLZ ARE CONSUMING SOMEONE ELSE'S DREAM, or what some ad man thinks their dreams should be...the same as all those suburban kids who go to the Maryiin Manson Superstore, I mean, Hot Topic. Its all related.