They can be seen more frequently than ever before on college campuses, wearing thick-rimmed glasses while listening to indie music.
They
can
be
seen
more
frequently
than
ever
before
on
college
campuses
,
wearing
thick-rimmed
glasses
while
listening
to
indie
music
.
One might find them playing unusual musical instruments, shopping at second-hand stores or expressing themselves in other unique ways.
One
might
find
them
playing
unusual
musical
instruments
,
shopping
at
second-hand
stores
or
expressing
themselves
in
other
unique
ways
.
They call themselves hipsters.
They
call
themselves
hipsters
.
Being "hip" used to mean following the latest fashion.
Being
``
hip
''
used
to
mean
following
the
latest
fashion
.
But gradually the word has evolved into a synonym for "cool".
But
gradually
the
word
has
evolved
into
a
synonym
for
``
cool
''
.
Hipsters value independent thinking, progressive politics, an appreciation of creativity and intelligence.
Hipsters
value
independent
thinking
,
progressive
politics
,
an
appreciation
of
creativity
and
intelligence
.
Hipsters take pains and pride in not being mainstream.
Hipsters
take
pains
and
pride
in
not
being
mainstream
.
However, their culture has become quite trendy.
However
,
their
culture
has
become
quite
trendy
.
This irony is central to their culture and offers an interesting paradox.
This
irony
is
central
to
their
culture
and
offers
an
interesting
paradox
.
"I do take things in the mainstream with a grain of salt," says Ben Polson, a college student at Brown University in the US.
``
I
do
take
things
in
the
mainstream
with
a
grain
of
salt
,
''
says
Ben
Polson
,
a
college
student
at
Brown
University
in
the
US
.
Polson describes himself as a hipster and says he often questions what determines popularity, especially regarding music.
Polson
describes
himself
as
a
hipster
and
says
he
often
questions
what
determines
popularity
,
especially
regarding
music
.
When lesser-known bands become popular they often lose their former fan base in exchange for a new one.
When
lesser-known
bands
become
popular
they
often
lose
their
former
fan
base
in
exchange
for
a
new
one
.
There is a famous hipster saying that goes: I used to like that band before it got popular.
There
is
a
famous
hipster
saying
that
goes
:
I
used
to
like
that
band
before
it
got
popular
.
According to Polson, bands' music changes when they go mainstream.
According
to
Polson
,
bands
'
music
changes
when
they
go
mainstream
.
They become "less experimental, doing things just to save popularity and fans.
They
become
``
less
experimental
,
doing
things
just
to
save
popularity
and
fans
.
The original elements that we were drawn to slowly dwindle for the sake of popularity."
The
original
elements
that
we
were
drawn
to
slowly
dwindle
for
the
sake
of
popularity
.
''
Many young adults have started to view hipsters' outlook as cool and are adopting their counterculture mindset themselves.
Many
young
adults
have
started
to
view
hipsters
'
outlook
as
cool
and
are
adopting
their
counterculture
mindset
themselves
.
This has led to specialized brands, stores and music for the hipster position.
This
has
led
to
specialized
brands
,
stores
and
music
for
the
hipster
position
.
Ironically, some such stores, including clothing labels Urban Outfitters and American Apparel, have gained mainstream popularity.
Ironically
,
some
such
stores
,
including
clothing
labels
Urban
Outfitters
and
American
Apparel
,
have
gained
mainstream
popularity
.
This has seemingly diluted the anti-mainstream culture.
This
has
seemingly
diluted
the
anti-mainstream
culture
.
"A lot of people that are self-defined hipsters aren't really hipsters, they're just trying to conform to the non-conformist to seem cooler," says Amanda Leopold, a college student from Oberlin College, US.
``
A
lot
of
people
that
are
self-defined
hipsters
are
n't
really
hipsters
,
they
're
just
trying
to
conform
to
the
non-conformist
to
seem
cooler
,
''
says
Amanda
Leopold
,
a
college
student
from
Oberlin
College
,
US
.
Although Leopold has many unconventional tastes and seems quite individualist, she refuses to classify herself as a hipster.
Although
Leopold
has
many
unconventional
tastes
and
seems
quite
individualist
,
she
refuses
to
classify
herself
as
a
hipster
.
There is a conflict among hipsters about the very definition of the label.
There
is
a
conflict
among
hipsters
about
the
very
definition
of
the
label
.
To some, to be a hipster is to be free from cultural constraints.
To
some
,
to
be
a
hipster
is
to
be
free
from
cultural
constraints
.
To others, it means wearing a certain style and listening to a specific style of music.
To
others
,
it
means
wearing
a
certain
style
and
listening
to
a
specific
style
of
music
.
The former constantly strives for uniqueness, while the latter strives not to be mainstream.
The
former
constantly
strives
for
uniqueness
,
while
the
latter
strives
not
to
be
mainstream
.
And yet, the movement is gaining mainstream popularity.
And
yet
,
the
movement
is
gaining
mainstream
popularity
.
"It's kind of the trend these days; everyone wants to be hip so no one ’ s hip," says Leopold.
``
It
's
kind
of
the
trend
these
days
;
everyone
wants
to
be
hip
so
no
one
’
s
hip
,
''
says
Leopold
.
"There have been hipsters since the seventies.
``
There
have
been
hipsters
since
the
seventies
.
It's only become popular recently."
It
's
only
become
popular
recently
.
''
Hipsters reject materialism and laugh at mainstream culture.
Hipsters
reject
materialism
and
laugh
at
mainstream
culture
.
But are they really beyond material comforts?
But
are
they
really
beyond
material
comforts
?
Do they have any ideas of their own if they despise mainstream so much?
Do
they
have
any
ideas
of
their
own
if
they
despise
mainstream
so
much
?
Christy Wampole, an associate professor of literature at Princeton University, US, is not so sure.
Christy
Wampole
,
an
associate
professor
of
literature
at
Princeton
University
,
US
,
is
not
so
sure
.
She says the hipster is a contradiction in himself and an easy target of mockery.
She
says
the
hipster
is
a
contradiction
in
himself
and
an
easy
target
of
mockery
.
Writing in The New York Times, Wampole paints a less appreciative picture of a typical hipster.
Writing
in
The
New
York
Times
,
Wampole
paints
a
less
appreciative
picture
of
a
typical
hipster
.
"The hipster is a scholar of social forms, a student of cool.
``
The
hipster
is
a
scholar
of
social
forms
,
a
student
of
cool
.
He studies continuously, searching for what has yet to be found by the mainstream.
He
studies
continuously
,
searching
for
what
has
yet
to
be
found
by
the
mainstream
.
He is a walking citation; his clothes refer to much more than themselves.
He
is
a
walking
citation
;
his
clothes
refer
to
much
more
than
themselves
.
He tries to negotiate the age-old problem of individuality, not with concepts, but with material things."
He
tries
to
negotiate
the
age-old
problem
of
individuality
,
not
with
concepts
,
but
with
material
things
.
''
They can be seen more frequently than ever before on college campuses, wearing thick-rimmed glasses while listening to indie music. One might find them playing unusual musical instruments, shopping at second-hand stores or expressing themselves in other unique ways. They call themselves hipsters. Being "hip" used to mean following the latest fashion. But gradually the word has evolved into a synonym for "cool".  Hipsters value independent thinking, progressive politics, an appreciation of creativity and intelligence. Hipsters take pains and pride in not being mainstream. However, their culture has become quite trendy. This irony is central to their culture and offers an interesting paradox.  "I do take things in the mainstream with a grain of salt," says Ben Polson, a college student at Brown University in the US. Polson describes himself as a hipster and says he often questions what determines popularity, especially regarding music. When lesser-known bands become popular they often lose their former fan base in exchange for a new one. There is a famous hipster saying that goes: I used to like that band before it got popular.  According to Polson, bands' music changes when they go mainstream. They become "less experimental, doing things just to save popularity and fans. The original elements that we were drawn to slowly dwindle for the sake of popularity."  Many young adults have started to view hipsters' outlook as cool and are adopting their counterculture mindset themselves. This has led to specialized brands, stores and music for the hipster position. Ironically, some such stores, including clothing labels Urban Outfitters and American Apparel, have gained mainstream popularity. This has seemingly diluted the anti-mainstream culture.  "A lot of people that are self-defined hipsters aren't really hipsters, they're just trying to conform to the non-conformist to seem cooler," says Amanda Leopold, a college student from Oberlin College, US. Although Leopold has many unconventional tastes and seems quite individualist, she refuses to classify herself as a hipster.  There is a conflict among hipsters about the very definition of the label. To some, to be a hipster is to be free from cultural constraints. To others, it means wearing a certain style and listening to a specific style of music. The former constantly strives for uniqueness, while the latter strives not to be mainstream.  And yet, the movement is gaining mainstream popularity. "It's kind of the trend these days; everyone wants to be hip so no one ’ s hip," says Leopold. "There have been hipsters since the seventies. It's only become popular recently."  Hipsters reject materialism and laugh at mainstream culture. But are they really beyond material comforts? Do they have any ideas of their own if they despise mainstream so much?  Christy Wampole, an associate professor of literature at Princeton University, US, is not so sure. She says the hipster is a contradiction in himself and an easy target of mockery. Writing in The New York Times, Wampole paints a less appreciative picture of a typical hipster.  "The hipster is a scholar of social forms, a student of cool. He studies continuously, searching for what has yet to be found by the mainstream. He is a walking citation; his clothes refer to much more than themselves. He tries to negotiate the age-old problem of individuality, not with concepts, but with material things."