Jan 18th, 2010
What the beatniks were to the fifties, the hipsters were to the aughties
by Miles Benson
(If you want to understand the above image go here, then here, then here.)
Every now and then I run across an image, video, article, blog, or overhear a comment regarding hipsters. It’s usually negative, commenting on the absurd or ridiculousness nature of their attire and attitudes. Often times I am able to laugh with the jokes and laugh with my hipsters friends at these jokes and quite frankly laugh at myself, because even though I don’t dress “hipster,” my mindset and attitude is very much that of a “hipster,” or at least I think so.
Admittedly, one of the reasons I am writing this is because, I am little sore about the stereotypes that are passed around about hipsters.
A friend of mine, Jessica, posted this image on her blog recently:
I don’t think the image is wrong, but I think it makes it easier for people who like to rip on hipsters to rip on us/them more. Considering I can only assume based on how it’s written, was written by a hipster, so logically, people who rip on hipsters are going to read this and be like “Oh, I must right in thinking I can rip on hipsters because they’re ripping on themselves, I get a free pass.” Complaining and being somewhat angry that this image was created is stupid and a waste of time, especially when looking upon the evidence of other sub-cultures where people’s perceptions towards them haven’t changed. Hippies, punks, beatniks, and flappers are still made fun of pretty heavily to this day. Me talking about my animosity towards the image is going to do nothing towards the social perception towards this culture.
However, having said that, I think it’s important to point out that what the beatniks were to the fifties, hippies were to the sixties and seventies, flappers to the twenties, and punks to the eighties…hipsters were to the aughties. It’s a sub-culture composed of people who defied convention and conformity to ideas that are commonly upheld by most.
Lets look at some facts…
The hippie culture
- gave unmarried couples of all ages the freedom to travel and live together without societal disapproval
- expanded rights to homosexual, bisexual and transsexual people
- enabled for greater acceptance for religious and cultural diversity
- enabled for co-operative business enterprises and creative community living arrangements to be more accepted
- health food stores of the 60’s and 70’s are now large-scale, profitable businesses, due to greater interest in natural foods, herbal remedies, vitamins and other nutritional supplements
- broadened the personal appearance options and clothing styles, including nudity, which became more widely acceptable
The beatnik culture
- were there before the hippies arrived on the scene to tell them they did not have to conform. That they could speak out against societal norms and find their way to their own truth
- engaged in a questioning of traditional values which produced a break with the mainstream culture that to this day people react to – or against
- produced a great deal of interest in lifestyle experimentation (notably in regards to sex and drugs); and they had a large intellectual effect in encouraging the questioning of authority (a force behind the anti-war movement)
- were very active in popularizing interest in Zen Buddhism in the West
Flapper culture
- redefined how women act in society by going to jazz clubs at night where they danced provocatively, smoked cigarettes, sniffed cocaine, and dated freely; they rode bicycles and drove cars and drank alcohol openly
- began taking work outside the home and challenging women’s traditional societal roles
- advocated voting and women’s rights
Punk culture
- educated and made popular following and believing in highly controversial “ism’s,” that advocated and popularized individual freedom and anti-establishment views. Common punk viewpoints include anti-authoritarianism, a DIY ethic, non-conformity, direct action and not selling out; other notable trends: nihilism, anarchism, socialism, anti-militarism, anti-capitalism, anti-racism, anti-sexism, anti-nationalism, anti-homophobia, environmentalism, vegetarianism, veganism and animal rights.
- seeked to outrage others with the highly theatrical use of clothing, hairstyles, cosmetics, tattoos, jewelry and body modification. This again, like the beatniks, was to engage people in questioning traditional values which would produce a break in the mainstream
- popularized DIY thinking specifically in regards to, but was not limited to: publishing, fashion, and art.
Where and how do hipsters fit into any of this? How do they contribute to a social cause instead of just being pretentious pricks? Well, now that the aughties just ended, it might be easier to see how.
Hipster culture
- thrives on anything independent, anything that hasn’t been subjected to censorship and filters. Which helped popularize independent media, thinking and living; in turn making people want to live more authentic and promote the idea of complete creative control over every vestige of your life
- promotes such positive thinking acts such as thrift store shopping, eating organic, locally grown, vegetarian, and/or vegan food, drinking local beer (or even brewing their own), listening to public radio, and riding bicycles
- helped to make the widely accepted concept of metrosexuality popular in turn helping people become more accepting of gay culture
Us hipsters are not without our faults…of course everyone gets us wrong. The definition of ‘hipster’ remains opaque to anyone outside this self-proclaiming, highly-selective circle. The whole point of hipsters is that they avoid labels and being labeled. However, we all dress the same and act the same and conform in our non-conformity, much like all other subcultures.
In the beginning it wasn’t like this obviously, but the more and more people became exposed to hipsters the more and more people were influenced by them, therefore, creating a mockery of everything that once was. And the same could be said for quite literally every other subculture. The more exposure we gain the more our word and influence is spread which is great because it does exactly what we want it to do. Make people think differently than how they’ve always thought. But, in the end, it’s the mainstreamers that are influenced by us that claim ownership and skew the concepts that we originally intended to suit their own needs.
Many of us may be pretentious pricks, the image isn’t wrong about that. But, what it fails to point out is that, so weren’t all the other subcultures. But that doesn’t mean we contribute nothing to society. And quite honestly, that’s how many of these people involved in these subcultures feel about the mainstream…is that YOU’RE all pretentious pricks because we don’t fit into YOUR culture. So we created our own.
Listen, I/we really don’t care if you make fun of us, because quite honestly, it’s really funny when you do. Just don’t say we contribute nothing to society when you can’t turn on the TV, go online, or simply just walk around without seeing our influence somewhere that the mainstream has adopted.
January 18th, 2010 at 3:46 pm:
* thrives on anything independent, anything that hasn’t been subjected to censorship and filters. Which helped popularize independent media, thinking and living; in turn making people want to live more authentic and promote the idea of complete creative control over every vestige of your life
o I have no problem with this, in fact, I think this is great! However, the criticism comes from the tangible lack of authenticity as seen in the hipsters (and every stereotypical group). It’s not independent thinking when everyone thinks the same thing, likes the same music, wears the same clothes, has the same tattoos, etc. It’s grounds for criticism when people hear “we’re independent, free thinkers” but see a bunch of carbon copies running around.
* promotes such positive thinking acts such as thrift store shopping, eating organic, locally grown, vegetarian, and/or vegan food, drinking local beer (or even brewing their own), listening to public radio, and riding bicycles
o This, I find it at best ironic, and at worst blatantly hypocritical. That individuals, who can afford to buy organic/locally grown – a luxury that really only the upper class can afford – choose to shop in thrift stores that are set up to help low income families.
* helped to make the widely accepted concept of metro sexuality popular in turn helping people become more accepting of gay culture
o I think that the inverse is true. That is, it has been the pop gay culture that has played a large role in transforming what it means to be a man today. Additionally, the origin “metrosexual” is evident in the very word – metro, as from the city. This is due in large part to the changing nature of American economics. As we see more and more jobs move out of the rural areas and factories and into the service sector (in offices, usually in the city). We have also seen a change in how men are expected to dress/behave.
In short, I fail to see the positive impact of hipsters. To say they have had an impact is one thing, to say it has been positive is quite another. Personally, I see hipsters as an outcome of the current state of society rather than a force shaping it. Our generation are a bunch of spoiled brats, we have been given everything on a silver platter and what do we do? We act like a bunch of pretentious pricks.
January 19th, 2010 at 12:40 am:
I’m sorry, this caused me to spit out my drink.
Perhaps this comes from living in the middle of Hipster Central and my annoyance at dealing with this “culture” on a near daily basis. This comes from months and months of sitting at bar, speaking with hipsters, trying to understand the sub-culture and still coming up empty. Hipsters are a generation obsessed with themselves. Perhaps this is the way society shaped them to be these shallow children who cling to whatever comes along. Everything from their dress styles to the very beer they drink is borrowed from other classes, other cultures, and other movements. They have nothing original. They haven’t impacted anything. All the points that you made are originally from other cultures to begin with. The thing that bothers me most about the hipsters is that they don’t even really try to do anything with their culture except stroke their own egos and “creativeness.”
* thrives on anything independent, anything that hasn’t been subjected to censorship and filters. Which helped popularize independent media, thinking and living; in turn making people want to live more authentic and promote the idea of complete creative control over every vestige of your life
- If that were true it would be great. But its not. Take one look at the hipster kids its all the same clothes, all the same style. Censorship and filters were actually covered by the punk culture who was all about breaking them down and making society aware. All a hipster would do is make a pin and put it on their coat going “hey! look at me being so ~progressive~”
* promotes such positive thinking acts such as thrift store shopping, eating organic, locally grown, vegetarian, and/or vegan food, drinking local beer (or even brewing their own), listening to public radio, and riding bicycles
- Once again, punk kids started this long before the hipsters came to town. The hipsters adapted it to their image and made it “theirs” like mostly everything they have “going for them”
* helped to make the widely accepted concept of metrosexuality popular in turn helping people become more accepting of gay culture
- I’m not going to even touch this one. Other than.. really? Really? REALLY? A hipster is only looking out for hipster. They aren’t shaping anything.
https://www.adbusters.org/magazine/79/hipster.html <– this is a real good read. Some of the points are a little over the top, but still an interesting perspective.
The hipster even took their name from a 1940s subculture movement of people who liked jazz music. Now it will forever be thought of as middle class who mostly live off their parent's income. A hipster lives in their apathy. I miss the movements that would actually try to change things. All the ones who came before them had something in their culture that made an impact on society. Hipsterdom only has an impact on themselves.
When I find at least one authentic hipster, who truly shows the traits you have outlined for them perhaps my opinion will change. And I would truly love to find at least one of them who proves me wrong.. but for now.. I'm going to disagree with you.
January 19th, 2010 at 10:45 am:
“It’s grounds for criticism when people hear “we’re independent, free thinkers” but see a bunch of carbon copies running around.”
Good point, however, I addressed this already: “Us hipsters are not without our faults…The definition of ‘hipster’ remains opaque to anyone outside this self-proclaiming, highly-selective circle. The whole point of hipsters is that they avoid labels and being labeled. However, we all dress the same and act the same and conform in our non-conformity…” And I continued to say: “In the beginning it wasn’t like this obviously, but the more and more people became exposed to hipsters the more and more people were influenced by them.” Which basically just means that every subculture eventually falls to conformity because their influence is always picked up and adopted by others. It’s inevitable. This isn’t solely hipsters faults, but humanity as a whole for not thinking independently. You’re singling out hipsters as the greatest perpetrator of this. When, this could possibly be said for quite literally everyone…including quite possibly yourself.
“This, I find it at best ironic, and at worst blatantly hypocritical. That individuals, who can afford to buy organic/locally grown – a luxury that really only the upper class can afford – choose to shop in thrift stores that are set up to help low income families.”
I’m not sure where you shop, but, organic and locally grown food isn’t that hard to come by nowadays therefore the prices for such goods have been reduced considerably. We can’t ethically say that ALL organic food and locally grown is only within the price range of people who make a decent salary. That’s awfully presumptuous…
In regards to the thrift stores…you make a very valid point, but step back for a second and look at the larger picture. It’s not like hipsters are cleaning out thrift stores left and right leaving them empty for homeless and people in need. They recognize the purchasing of products distributed in mass quantities creates an excess of needless waste where the run off ends up at shelters. They’re actually helping by recycling instead of buying more stuff and feeding larger corporations.
“Additionally, the origin “metrosexual” is evident in the very word – metro, as from the city. This is due in large part to the changing nature of American economics. As we see more and more jobs move out of the rural areas and factories and into the service sector (in offices, usually in the city). We have also seen a change in how men are expected to dress/behave.”
This is probably the more swaying point you make for me. Because I suppose I didn’t do enough research into what this term means. You make a very valid point, that I think I may have to reconsider leaving that bullet on the list.
“In short, I fail to see the positive impact of hipsters.”
Well, you’re not alone. Considering, hipster-dom, is still going full-force, it hasn’t been replaced by another culture yet so seeing the positive impact is harder to see, but not impossible. I won’t fault you for that. I’m sure people didn’t see the positive influences of hippies and beatniks until years later.
I will fault you however, for not stating a more open minded response about what they possibly might be doing for society in a positive way instead of just resorting to name calling (spoiled brats and pretentious pricks) and presumptuous remarks.
January 19th, 2010 at 12:38 pm:
Good point, however, I addressed this already: “Us hipsters are not without our faults…The definition of ‘hipster’ remains opaque to anyone outside this self-proclaiming, highly-selective circle. The whole point of hipsters is that they avoid labels and being labeled. However, we all dress the same and act the same and conform in our non-conformity…” And I continued to say: “In the beginning it wasn’t like this obviously, but the more and more people became exposed to hipsters the more and more people were influenced by them.” Which basically just means that every subculture eventually falls to conformity because their influence is always picked up and adopted by others. It’s inevitable. This isn’t solely hipsters faults, but humanity as a whole for not thinking independently. You’re singling out hipsters as the greatest perpetrator of this. When, this could possibly be said for quite literally everyone…including quite possibly yourself.
o I am not singling out hipsters. I am pointing to the absurdity of anyone who explicitly identifies them selves with a larger identity/culture but then claims to be so “different.” and I know that this isn’t just hipsters. It’s hard to be novel when all your friends look and act like you.
I’m not sure where you shop, but, organic and locally grown food isn’t that hard to come by nowadays therefore the prices for such goods have been reduced considerably. We can’t ethically say that ALL organic food and locally grown is only within the price range of people who make a decent salary. That’s awfully presumptuous…
In regards to the thrift stores…you make a very valid point, but step back for a second and look at the larger picture. It’s not like hipsters are cleaning out thrift stores left and right leaving them empty for homeless and people in need. They recognize the purchasing of products distributed in mass quantities creates an excess of needless waste where the run off ends up at shelters. They’re actually helping by recycling instead of buying more stuff and feeding larger corporations.
o I don’t know what ethics has to do with it, but you can Not honestly dispute that organic and locally grown food costs more, regardless of where you shop. Even if organic/locally grown food doesn’t cost more to produce – which in most cases it does – because it has become so trendy the demand has gone up. And from here it is just basic economics, demand goes up so too does the price. I am not against eating healthy organic food or supporting locally farmers, However, its irritating to me, that a lot of these hipsters, are too young to know what its like – financially or otherwise- to try and support a family.
As for the tendency of hipsters to shop at thrift stores, they aren’t doing it in an attempt to bring down Wal-Mart, and even if they were, this will never happen. They are doing it simply for aesthetic reasons. And that’s fine, just don’t try to pass it off as something grandiose and noble.
Lastly, I stand by my point that OUR generation (this includes hipsters and non-hipsters alike) are a bunch of spoiled brats. Just look at college enrollment, its done up exponentially since just our parents generation. And who is footing the bill? I am willing to venture a guess that in most cases its the parents. Hipsters are a by-product of a generation who has been given everything. We have more problems now than any previous generation, but hipsters have no cause -just a $2 vintage shirt and a $5 skim latte from Starbucks.
But who knows, maybe some day the history books will prove me wrong.
January 19th, 2010 at 3:14 pm:
“But who knows, maybe some day the history books will prove me wrong.”
<3
YES YES YES YES!!! Thank god you ended it with that. That’s all I ever ask of anyone.
January 19th, 2010 at 5:10 pm:
Miss Jesse Lee,
I find many of your comments to be nothing more than biased generalizations, bordering on ignorance.
For example: “Lastly, I stand by my point that OUR generation (this includes hipsters and non-hipsters alike) are a bunch of spoiled brats. Just look at college enrollment, its done up exponentially since just our parents generation. And who is footing the bill? I am willing to venture a guess that in most cases its the parents. Hipsters are a by-product of a generation who has been given everything. We have more problems now than any previous generation, but hipsters have no cause -just a $2 vintage shirt and a $5 skim latte from Starbucks.”
Personally, I admit that I am actually quite “spoiled,” if spoiled means having been given many advantages that most people don’t have. But why hold this against me? Why hold it against the generation? People can be spoiled without being “brats.”
Just because I didn’t pay my way through college, doesn’t mean that I don’t understand the value of hard work. I put in (minimum) 8 hours a day at work (not including my hour and half commute and not including the 4 hours of work I did this weekend); I get 20 minutes for lunch and also volunteer my time on a regular basis. How many hours a week do YOU work? How many hours a week do YOU volunteer? Do you ever do extra work on Sunday, not because you are getting paid by the hour, but because you want to do your best? I do. Yes, I have been give a lot. A hell of a lot more than the average person. But I have never taken it for granted. For you to presume that an entire generation’s worth of individuals is going around taking and taking and taking without actually earning is absurd. I might be “spoiled”, but maybe you’re the “spoiled brat”, not because you have been given advantages, but because you think you deserve them.
January 19th, 2010 at 5:41 pm:
I agree with miss Krista that many of your comments are biased, generalized, and maybe even ignorant.
You said, “We have more problems now than any previous generation, but hipsters have no cause -just a $2 vintage shirt and a $5 skim latte from Starbucks.”
Do you really think this generation has more problems than those prior?
You think our current recession and the other aspects of the economy are bad now? Well, you’re right, but try living during The Great Depression when the unemployment rate was 25%
Try being an African American prior to the civil rights movement? The first black president was voted democratically into office last year, when only 50 years ago blacks were told they couldn’t go to white schools and couldn’t eat in white restaurants.
You’re a woman. Would you have enjoyed living 200-300 years ago when women had not gained suffrage, were still considered property, and did not have the independence that women today have?
You’re a woman. How about childbirth? Sure we don’t have national health care, but at least we have modern technology? The current maternal death rate is 1%, down from 40% in the 1800s. Not to mention that the life expectancy is significantly higher and that we have cures and vaccines for diseases that would have killed your generation decades ago.
How about education? College used to be for the elite and gifted. Now almost anyone can go. You seem angry that parents are paying for their sons’ and daughters’ educations, but maybe we should be reveling in the fact that parents, like myself, can? If you have/had a child, you might understand that feeling of wanting to give them everything you can. Today, parents can give their kids advantages (particularly with college) that my parents couldn’t afford to give me. Does that make this generation weaker? No, I think it makes them stronger.
Let’s take a look at technology. Yes, cars and other vehicles are polluting our environment. But at least you can have one. They are safe and affordable; no longer a privelege for the wealthy. And if a car is not enough, you can get anywhere in the world, relatively quickly, relatively comfortably, and for a relatively low cost on a plane, train or boat.
With the development of TV and radio, and with the advent of the internet information travels faster and faster. The world is literally at our fingertips nowadays. In fact, it is amazing that with so much information readily available to the masses, that people like you can still be so ignorant.
You said, “We have more problems now than any previous generation, but hipsters have no cause -just a $2 vintage shirt and a $5 skim latte from Starbucks.”
I don’t know a lot about hipsters, but I do know that this generation has a lot of advantages. To ignore these great advantages and instead wallow in the negative and to scapegoat the current youth culture for your problems (or what you at least perceive as your problems) is not only sad, but is also exactly what keeps a generation from continuing to progress.
January 19th, 2010 at 5:47 pm:
YIKES!
Maybe I am just being defensive because I am a scenester who takes offense to this, but let me guess Jesse Lee:
You are struggling to hold down a job, jealous because you have massive loans you can’t pay off, frustrated with your lot in life, and are in turn finding external factors to blame for your hardships and misfortunes? The problem isn’t me, its my generation…
Am I right? Or am I right?
January 19th, 2010 at 6:10 pm:
I thought that Miss Jesse Lee brought some important points to light. I agree that anyone who claims to be an independent, free thinker but then identifies with a larger social group is a hypocrite. This is true for hipsters, hippies, goths, and everyone else.
Well said, Jesse!
January 19th, 2010 at 6:18 pm:
I hear what both Jesse lee and Mandy are saying. But let me ask this:
Is there therefore anyone who is truly an independent, free thinker then? Don’t we all conform? Don’t we all consider ourselves part of some kind of group? Are not all of us exhibiting and maybe even reinforcing one stereotype or another?
No man is an island as someone once said. This can mean a myriad of things depending on the context. But are not all men influenced by one another (both those who came before, and those who are around us now)? And aren’t we going to gravitate toward others who share our same beliefs and values? There is strength in numbers, and comfort in what is familiar and understood. This does not mean that no one can think for themselves. This does not mean that people who identify with groups are shallow hypocrites.
Or maybe it does mean this.
But in that case, NO ONE is an independent thinker.
So if we call hipsters misguided hypocrites, then we should call ourselves that as well.
January 22nd, 2010 at 12:39 pm:
Whoa, whoa, whoa Miss Krista. Slow your roll. I am not singling anyone out here. I merely took issue with Miles’ point about the positive impact of hipsters. Point-counter point – get it? But, if you want to get into personal work ethic, I’d be happy to go toe-to-toe. Here’s a synopsis: I got pregnant at 18, before I even graduated high school. I went to community college while pregnant and for 1 year afterward while working. Then I transferred to Northeastern, where I had to commute from over an hour away every day. I continued to work, go to school full time AND raise a child as a single parent until I graduated this May. It’s true, I don’t volunteer but that is because I don’t have time to work for free – I have a family to raise.
And no, Victor, I am not bitter about my lot in life. I am quite blessed to live the life I live! Ask Miles, I am a very happy person, albeit sassy and opinionated from time to time.
I wonder why people find my remarks so “biased” and “ignorant”? Could it possibly be because they don’t align with your own? I I have a lot of respect for Miles, and I don’t recall ever saying he was ignorant. However, is he biased? Sure. Am I biased? Of course. That’s human nature, we draw on our life experiences to form opinions. But am I ignorant, absolutely not.
Josh – I am not wallowing in this generations problems, so stop being so hyperbolic. Comparing contemporary politics/society to 200yrs ago and saying that we are better off now is easy but I don’t believe in relativism. The world is a messed up place TODAY, so instead of fixating on the past – you might even say wallowing – I am concerned about where the world is going in the future.
January 25th, 2010 at 10:57 am:
Okay, I can understand everyone’s animosity towards the idea that they profess being original when in your opinion they’re not. I get that.
However, I’m simply pointing out that this image says that they contribute NOTHING to society. Nothing? Really? Nothing? Absolutely nothing at all? There’s not one good thing that they do at all?
The things that they’re doing aren’t “bad” things, they may unoriginal ideas, sure, but that doesn’t mean that their heart isn’t in a good place.
Regardless of whether or not they started it, claim to have started it, or not…they’re contributors to causes a lot of people don’t care about, but probably should. In no way shape or form did I ever state that they were creators of these concepts, but merely contributors to them.
I feel that many of you might be drawing from biased opinions of hipsters, which is fine, because like Jesse said, we draw from our own experiences…
I guess I just ask you to rethink your thoughts. Because to truly think that other human beings that think and are different than us regardless of class, culture, mindset, etc; truly contribute nothing positive to this world is very alarming to me that you would think this.
February 12th, 2010 at 1:33 pm:
Thought this article might be appropriate for what’s been said here.