Could someone help explain this style-/trend-challenged bloke what it means to be defined as a ‘hipster’? Is it the personal grooming and apparel style which approximates an effeminate lumberjack (an oxymoron unto itself I declare)? Is it the commanding of a mode of two-wheel transportation known as the ‘fixie’? Is it the obvious display of the particular sleeve tattoo that’s been syndicated to include the predictable Koi fish, Samurai face and obligatory flower of some well-known plant genus?
Please tell me there’s more to it than this? If, for example, the title is bestowed upon those with a proper, righteous philosophy of some kind that really stands for something meaningful and thought-provoking—please enlighten me. -DasedAndConfuzed
This article appears in Jun 26 – Jul 2, 2014.
I always thought it was the Brand of Beard Oil they used.
It’s the complete lack of self realization – an individual that requires a larger group to specify which vintage clothing articles, hairstyles, accessories, etc. to admire and loudly project – while maintaining the impression of being nonchalant – for all the world to see.
Pitchfork usually dictates their taste in music – and although not band specific – you will notice larger trends.
Insecurities contribute to the strong impulse to follow. But you have to throw in some indifference to complete the package.
It stands for nothing meaningful and thought-provoking, to answer your question.
Perhaps others will have more insight.
its fully the product of allowing people to be individuals and unique, like everyone else lol. they end up all being the same because they all want to be unique and special individuals that are free to express themselves. you look stupid. you dont look trendy. you dont look unique. you are not special….well maybe you are but that isnt a positive. you probably needed a punch in the face at sometime but were too busy hanging out with more passive aggressives to recieve that special attention that you clearly need lol. keep on looking/acting/feeling like complete idiots.
OP is a hipster. They’re just trying to hide it be feigning ignorance.
Well the beard and plaid shirt arn’t really a tell tale, as this was a style before hipster were around.
1)The guys usually have really tight pants for some reason… it looks like they have no balls at all, and for some reason they like scarves a lot.
2)There’s also an attitude that since they’ve gone to some college or university they’ve done everything, you’ll hear “I did that before it was cool” come from them a lot.
3)Taking pictures of meals is big to them for some reason I just know if i sent my friends pictures of my shitty spaghetti every time i sat down to eat, i wouldn’t have many friends left.
4) They like old crappy shit and call it “vintage”
5)Tattoos arn’t really for hipsters, they’re just not strictly for people from prison anymore.
6) I still can’t tell the difference between a female emo and a female hipster so good luck there.
7)A lot of times they have really wierd or shitty footwear, like SUPER tight jeans and orange sneakers or corduroys pants and those stupid rubber clog things.
That’s just a quick checklist, Wannabe Hipsters(*shudders*) will partake in some of this stuff too so be careful.
Well! Beard oil! Who knew?!
They aren’t so much effeminate as they are metrosexual-ish. The plaid is a definite throwback to lumberjacks. Tattoos are hot. And I love bearded guys.
I dunno’ what my comment is here, really…
I’m off work now kids. Enjoy the weekend!
Remember when FarWest jackets were cool?
There you go.
Live and let live.
Jhey- perhaps you can weigh in on this- oh wait, that’s specifically what you do. All you do? I’m awaiting your self- help book.
Hippies without a value system, maybe?
I think it is mostly a phony word used to describe people with interests outside The Leafs/Habs, Keith’s drinking everyman common to North America. I don’t think the archetypal Williamsburg hipster actually exists.
hipster seems to be a word invented by our man jhey to describe all the men who are getting the girls that turned jhey down.
why else be so friggin fixated on them whilst declaiming his ‘indifference’?
Jenny,
You must be a hipster. Last time I checked, we all “weigh-in” on posts the moment we submit our own reply? Or maybe you don’t operate following the same logic, because you’re a hipster and hate that people see through your hipster bullshit.
Hipster!
the word has lost any meaning, if it ever had one. stop
specifically, jhey, i was remarking on how you comment on every post with the word hipster in it (and i suspect write the bulk of them). i do understand how this online commenting works, to answer your implicit question/accusation.
i had a friend in high school who was a vehement homophobe, and recently came out of the closet. again, i suspect you are suffering from a similar unnecessary closetedness ‘i can’t be that awful thing (that i’m completely fascinated with and probably am)’ in both cases, it’s no big deal.
http://bit.ly/1iDpHTV
Q) Why don’t hipsters barbecue?
1) “Like, meat is murder!”
2)”Dude, have you ever thought about the size of your carbon footprint?”
3) Difficult to eat KD ironically, when it keeps falling though the grill.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kAO4EVMlpwM
A “fixie” I’m quite sure, is a set gear or fixed gear bike in this post. They are fucking stupid to drive around Halifax because of the hills, complications with stopping, and traffic. Tight hipster pants won’t help either, if you are a hipster who sees and using the “fixie” as fashionable keep this in mind before you buy one.
They do get your legs ripped though.
Daniel, now that it’s Pride Week your problem of tight hipster pants will be fixed with the wearing of bare arsed chaps.
Start of Ramadan AND Pride Week, I smell a conspiracy.
Found out from a hipster this week at work , it can be a new article of clothing, long as there are no brand name labels , advertising etc on the clothing … good luck with that
TPOH song “She’s So Young”…. first verse… “as much as she’d like to believe she’s leading a brand new way… that uniform that she wears… I see it on the street everyday… she looks heavenward and struggles to find the right chiche… you’ve got to find you’re own space… have a nice day….”
Ramadan in Iraq, Syria, Nigeria, Somalia, Northern Kenya…
LET THE HUNGER GAMES BEGIN!
THE POOR MAN’S EXISTENTIALISM
“If, for example, the title is bestowed upon those with a proper, righteous philosophy of some kind that really stands for something meaningful and thought-provoking, please enlighten me.” DazedAndConfuzed.
Indeed, the title “hipster” is bestowed upon those with a “proper philosophy of some kind”
(the “righteous” part is theological and should be avoided) because – are you waiting for it? – it is impossible to NOT to have such a philosophy. Of course, one must not confuse a “proper philosophy” that is that is fully articulated into an ontology, an epistemology and an aesthetics – we’re not talking Plato here – but rather one which is held informally, tacitly, but nonetheless “proper” for all that. Where would one look for those possessing such a philosophy? One would look right under one’s nose at this bitchboard. Both the bitches and the comments themselves embody such an informal philosophy. Let’s start with what the hipster is trying to do.
In his sartorial manner, the hipster is proclaiming his identity, his individuality. He is proclaiming to those who would gaze upon him that he is an individual of some substance by the way he dresses. But this has always been the case throughout history, including those extreme instances of the mediaeval codpiece worn by one who proclaimed his individuality by the size of his genitalia. But we don’t need to go back to history to see such proclaiming of one’s individuality.
By writing this comment I am, in effect, proclaiming, “Here I am, look at me!” This need not be viewed as bragadoccio but simply an affirmation that one exists. That is why everyone, with varying degrees of success, posts their bitches and comments and it is also the reason that they continue to do so. It is addictive. It might be called “the poor man’s existentialism.”
A pleasure as always.
Cheerio!