Hippy Hippy Shake

"My favourite Pokemon is Diglett, because he is still underground."
~ Hipster Cat

There are a lot of jokes nowadays about hipsters. It seems like the term originates in the 1930s (according to Wikipedia, the all-knowing lord of questionable trivia) but has come back in the 2000s, describing a type of middle-class urban subculture mainly interested in indie film, indie rock, and which fetishizes the concept of "authenticity".

I've heard a lot of hipster talk, both in jest and in sincerity, things like "that band was way better before they sold out. As soon as they get big, they bow down to the Man..." and "I got this shirt from a little boutique that nobody knows about. Handmade, one of a kind, real art," and "I don't watch TV, it just brainwashes you into loving mediocrity." Here are some examples of the tongue-in-cheek version of the popular hipster identity: Hipster Cat, Hipster Gandalf, and Hipster Superheroes.

I laughed at these jokes. And I knew the people. But then I thought back on my university years and had a chilling realization: I was well on my way to fitting the stereotype. Not so much in my study of English, but I was turning into a Film Hipster. Indie films were all the rage among my classmates, and we snickered at how glossy and fake the big commecial productions were. Many others wore ironic fashion statements, made their own clothes, touted the value of "post-rock" as the only worthwhile music, went vegan or freegan just to be different... Don't get me wrong, my peers were some brilliant people! Just eccentric, sometimes a little too intentionally.

I was very influenced by them, and I think I must have annoyed my family (and MANY friends) when I ripped apart "mainstream" movies for their formulaic plots and sticking to conventional camera styles, while yammering on about how so-and-so unknown director from the Czech Republic, working with this obscure American writer, created a work of art that would change your life.

*Shame* I was a hipster. I've since gone back to my mainstream movie, popular music, bestseller reading, mall-bought fashion ways, but the hipster streak will be with me forever. Guess I'll have to take it one day at a time. LOL

If you want to see more...
--> here is a serious article with more background
--> here is a bunch of pictures and videos if you just want to laugh at hipsters.