This article appears in Dec 6-12, 2007.
When does “indie” become “scene”?
So I was at NSCAD the other day, and I had lunch at one of the cafes across the street. Honestly, I’ve always liked the style of dress that so called “indie” people throw together…don’t get me wrong, but when I got enough awkward stares for not wearing
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Why are you so intimidated by NSCAD poseurs?They’re just kids trying to find their place in society.I find them quite amusing in a nostalgic way.I remember when I thought I was so cool.Don’t you?
It’s the 30-plus-year-olds acting like that that disturb me, deeply.
I find people who are into arts are also dressing way out of the ordinary. Hair all mangled, clothes are a mess……….complete shambles. and Please stop saying, I (they are) am expressing my individuality!. you r expressing that you don’t give a shit about your appearance.
Small city arts people often look like crap because there is not much of a “profitable artist” crowd around to emulate.If artists started making real money you can bet threadbare sweaters would soon be tossed.
Man, we’re just standing up the man, man. Conformity? That’s what they want dude. Just because my hemp poncho was still woven by some Indonesian kid doesn’t mean I’m not indie. It’s what the poncho represents that’s important. Now where did I put my vegan frozen dinner.
hahahaha!!! i love it. fuckin indie kids. almost as bad as goths.
“OO- I don’t make that much $$ but I’ll be seen in those outfits ‘never’, they can dress better than that mo’ money or no money. they just seem to like that trash can look……..why, the answer is in their art work.
I used to go to NSCAD so if you must know when you have a large load of work that they are given you are often up all night working on it. You cant just goof off and get away with it. Well you can if you want shitty marks. That school charges as much as Dal plus supplies that can run in the thousands for each semester. If you dont have rich parents to pay for everything and your living in the not so great part of town are you going to be able to afford nice clothes? No, your going to buy what you can and buy something funky to make up for the fact that you cant afford nice things. I dont see anyone making fun of rich snobby Paris wannabes so whats the deal. No ones telling you to wear it so get over yourself.
I would no go as far as calling the NASCAD students ‘indie’. They are frenchy shopping, veggie eating, sometimes creepy people. Now I realize I am lumping them together and stereotyping to boot, but come on! Preach about not conforming to mainstream society all you want but when you look in the mirror…Hello, YOU ARE MAINSTREAM SOCIETY! Nothing you have done or are doing is out of the ordinary. Drinking fair trade coffee and discussing where to get your next swatch of fabric does not make you unique.
The more things change the more they stay the same. I went to NSCAD in the early 80’s when everyone wore black. I wore my Expos shirt (that was a baseball team) and got along great with my photog prof who was a baseball fan. You will never be an artist if you blend into the crowd.
Actually “Annoyed”, the point isn’t to target people who aren’t able to afford expensive clothes…i dont wear expensive clothes at all…the point is that people make a conscious effort to look a certain way, listen to a certain type of music (and not all of them do, i’m aware) and it has absolutely nothing to do with the time you have or your ability to have proper hygene.
actually “Annoyed..”, the point isn’t to target people who are unable to afford expensive clothes…i don’t wear expensive clothes by any means or expect other people to. the point is the idea behind a conscious effort to ‘be different’ – when there’s no way in hell so many people can be ‘different’ yet exactly the same. and im aware it doesn’t apply to everyone.
Haha. you were at nascad.
i agree with the whole what was once thought to be “original” indie style, to being something just as common now-a-days as the “emo” fad. its just doesnt seem original anymore.. theres so many people out there who think you must be vegan and be politically active in order to blend in with this whole indie thing. you can listen to the genre of music and still wear whatever you want.. you dont need to wear those leggings, be a vegan, wear your hair a mess, be politcally active, and be amazing at art. be yourself, and if thats how you are.. all the power to you.
With NS tuition fees being the highest in Canada, and with staying up until 1 am working on final projects, and with the constant work for an uncertain (but interesting) future, you’ll have to excuse our appearance. A bit of paint on our clothes shows that at least we’ve done the work that left it there.Oh, and its NSCAD, not NASCAD
You call drawing work? Or what about putting up those shitty paintings and saying its art. NSCAD is a business just like anywhere else, they’ll take your money and give you a piece of paper that says you can paint/draw/take photographs/etc.
Diverse, yea right! Those kids are just a bunch of smelly, dirty, drugged out, art students who don’t need to worry about showers because when they sit around at their morning drum circle class they feel the need to explore their conceptual self by exhibiting a personal “aura”. Then when the afternoon comes and the bong has been passed around more times than the word “genre”, they all decide to draw some psychedelic pictures that they will attempt to sell on Spring Garden road. Don’t they realize that drawing boats and lighthouses will get them nowhere. Go read some books (not Picture books) and get a business degree. Your conceptual self will thank you.
Wow people are really angry at artists. What did kids make fun of you growing up because you couldnt progress past stick men? If you dont like art dont buy it and dont make it but dont get in my face about it. Im not getting in your face for working at a call center. So your in commerce, well good for you along with the 4000 other students. I hope your feeling satisfied in your life. Very meaningful. Bravo. I hope your proud of yourself. Who really cares how people dress. If they want to dress like bums then let them. Do you go down to the food bank and give them a hard time as well.
I’m appalled at the narrow minded and stereotypical views that all of you have against NSCAD Students. Not only with NSCAD Students but the people who identify with the “indie” scene. Do you, Stefan Hancherow, see all these art students passing a bong around every afternoon, or is that your very close minded opinion of what goes on at NSCAD. Is it because you’re jeallous at the fact that you aren’t nearly as interesting as someone who is more artistically inclinded? Here’s a bit of insight for you….Artists of all walks of life are very diverse, many of them running business’ of their own, opening their own studios working for large firms, consulting on large projects…etc. The list goes on, and because they are able to use both sides of the brain they are generally happier, well-liked and loved by others. So, Stefan and all the other close minded idiots, come by my studio…we’ll start with the basics, a little finger painting perhaps?
Wow. Some of you people are really bitter about the lifestyle choices of people you don’t know. It reminds me of the Great Croc Debate of this summer, or the outpouring of spleen against people wearing pyjama pants in public a couple of years ago.I’m not going to speculate about why you’re so bitter. I’m just going to point and laugh.