Modern Hipsters
The subculture of hipsters is mostly a mystery to the general public. If you are not a part of this subculture you clearly can tell who the hipsters or want-to-be hipsters are by their dress, act, and lifestyle. However those that are a part of the hipster subculture tend to outright deny it. There is no clear definition of a hipster. People have many different ideas about what a hipster is. In my survey of 100 students taken at Purdue University, I received a lot of varied responses to the question of “What is a Hipster?”. For example a respondent said, “Someone whom doesn't conform to society rules or customs. They tend to have their own sense of style that isn't overplayed or done.” While one person stated, “Someone who wears skinny jeans, glasses, and a button down or collared shirt”, another shared “An exquisite enthusiast of modern jazz who is hip and phat.” But the response I found most fitting was: "A young person with ultra-liberal political views who dresses in earthy tones almost exclusively. Might have facial piercings or ironic tattoos. Often seen wearing graphic t-shirts in conjunction with skinny corduroys. A ... hat is a must. If the hipster is a male, 9 times out of 10 he will be in desperate need of a shave and a haircut." It seems that each person I asked had a different idea of what defines a hipster. This is because each hipster has their own identity, and it is often difficult to stereotype a subculture that has such a diverse population. |
Over the past five years, the hipster fashion, hobbies, and
music have become a large part of popular culture. The characteristics of hip
are a lot broader than it once was. Once the media broadcasts certain ideals to
the public, it doesn’t take long for them to take over the old trends. Peter
Furia from Seedwell Digital Creative Studio says that the “Hipster culture is
omnipresent. It dominates fashion, music, and lifestyle. It crosses borders of
ethnicity, socio-economic status and sexual preference – something that we
haven’t seen since the boom of hip-hop culture”(Weeks). Because hipsters are
very thrifty and expressional individuals, they know how to adjust to certain
situations. Hipsterism has thrived and spread in our recessive economic
circumstances. Since people of this group enjoy growing their own food, buying
used clothing, and riding their bikes around town, they are able to live just
fine with limited resources. With the hipster subculture becoming more
prevalent, it has also begun to evolve. No longer are hipsters just unshaven,
liberal, young adults. Hipsters can be found in all ages, appearances, and
political backgrounds (Weeks).
music have become a large part of popular culture. The characteristics of hip
are a lot broader than it once was. Once the media broadcasts certain ideals to
the public, it doesn’t take long for them to take over the old trends. Peter
Furia from Seedwell Digital Creative Studio says that the “Hipster culture is
omnipresent. It dominates fashion, music, and lifestyle. It crosses borders of
ethnicity, socio-economic status and sexual preference – something that we
haven’t seen since the boom of hip-hop culture”(Weeks). Because hipsters are
very thrifty and expressional individuals, they know how to adjust to certain
situations. Hipsterism has thrived and spread in our recessive economic
circumstances. Since people of this group enjoy growing their own food, buying
used clothing, and riding their bikes around town, they are able to live just
fine with limited resources. With the hipster subculture becoming more
prevalent, it has also begun to evolve. No longer are hipsters just unshaven,
liberal, young adults. Hipsters can be found in all ages, appearances, and
political backgrounds (Weeks).