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Hipster

Being a hipster is fundamentally based on trying to be “untrendy” and thinking you have your own style. When many “untrendy” and “totally unique,” city-dwelling, men and women, who are mostly college students or college graduates, come together and unintentionally form a subculture, you end up with what has come to be known as “the hipster scene.” Hipsters are the “anti-trendtrend followers par excellence. All hipsters think that they come from diverse backgrounds, with diverse tastes in music, fashion, art, etc. They try to be as obscure as they can, so they can seem as intellectual and as unique as possible. But, because none of them really are intelligent or unique, they fail to come off as either, and instead, many of their behaviors end up rubbing off on one another.

In order to be a hipster you CANNOT call yourself a hipster. A person who thinks of him or herself, and identifies as, a hipster is automatically NOT a hipster. This is because you must believe that you are untrendy and different in order to be a real hipster, and by labeling yourself a “hipster” you are clearly declaring that you belong to a subculture, and hence, that you are a trendy little bastard. Thus, being a hipster is fundamentally based on denial and self-negation. That's why the common and seemingly binding behaviors we see among hipsters change every so often. For example, hipsters used to be known to buy all their cloths at thrift stores. But, because hipsters are "anti-trends," this activity is slowly dying amongst them. They have become aware of the popularity of the practice and hence, of its trendiness. Hipster culture is fluid and ever-changing because it is based on maintaining the appearance of diversity and difference. Therefore, hipsters can never be defined by the cloths they wear, the music they listen to, the places they go, or the topics they discuss. Here are the necessary conditions for being a hipster: (a) you must think that you are extremely different from everyone else, (b) you must think that you are in the intellectual elite and that you have a unique perspective on things, (c) you must try to be as ironic as possible, and act and think like you have the most obscure and elite taste in music, art, literature, and fashion, (d) you must go to parties with people who answer criterions a, b, and c (if you don’t surround yourself with other “different” and “unique” people, who are you going to be an "untrendy" hipster with?), and most importantly (e) You must never think of yourself or identity as - a hipster!!

Note that this is where things become a bit more complicated. If the hipster becomes aware of the paradox of being a hipster (self-negating, “anti-trend” trend), then they can start identifying themselves as hipsters and by doing so they would be ironic and different in comparison to everyone else in the hipster scene, who have yet to discover their self-negating natures! This will cause an infinite regression within the hipster, because you cannot identify yourself as a hipster in order to be a hipster, but by calling yourself a hipster and being aware of the paradox, you are being a complete hipster, but you cannot be a hipster if you identify as one...and so forth...into eternity.

David: I took a karate class in college, I wear designer cloths, I ironically work at a dry cleaners store, I got a 1600 on my SAT, and I like Merzbow, Joy Division, and Slayer
Tom: You’re a hipster
David: No I’m not!

by Narrow Souls July 3, 2008

195👍 495👎


[Hipster]

a person who refuses to be defined by any set idea, style. one who does not like to be pigeon holed. not to be confused with poser or "scene". Hipsters, although taste is relative, generally have very good taste. they prefer films which appeal to intellect or emotion and avoid cliche, sentiment and the generic. they like bands that most people have never heard of because they actually care about music and seek it out as opposed to just swallowing the first thing which comes to them like the majority or people do. music-wise they will listen to many different stles but nothing which is too self indulgent (incorporating mastabatory guitar solos) or just plain derogatory (gangster rap) but will listen to hip-hop and other types of "black" music, albeit underground. they like to be challenged and therefore read books deemed as difficult or "deep" to the average person. they are also often interested in contemporary art for this same reason. no true hipster will have a definitive style, choosing many different styles and will prefer to look different from one day to the next. their wardrobe will comprise of contemporary off beat cuts and various styles from past decades and adheres to ideas of post-modernity. contrary to popular opinion (which is generally moronic) hipsters do not dress the same but, as mentioned above, change their style continually. the people who are being referred to are the pretentious posers who copy the look but lack the depth. they are always intelligent and creative and can hold good converstion on a wide range of subjects. they are also very fond of sarcasm and irony and often employ them when accosted by an imbecile. hipsters are one of the most tolerant types or people and openly embrace different races and sexualities.

people who do not like hipsters either
a) are getting them confused with people who copy the dress etc but have no personality, as it is all pretense
or
b) feel inferior because they know jack shit about real, intelligent music, original, thought provoking film and books and daringly different dress sense. basically many people feel ugly when around hipsters which is often true.

they will know about every good band before the spoon-fed masses, and will very likely be the ones who make them popular.

hipster

by minikinschminikin August 22, 2008

27👍 57👎


hipster

In the 1940s and 1950s it meant beatniks, bohemians, people into jazz and poetry, pushing the extremes when it came to sex and substance abuse, etc. etc.

Today it means what poseur meant in the 70s/80s - an insult for pseudo intellectual young people who claim to be into obscure pop culture of the past and are into co-opting cool stuff, and adopt white trash chic like trucker hats or Pabst Blue Ribbon, While being a 21st century hipster is preferable to being a gangsta, wigger, or yuppie, it's still nothing to be proud of today.
There is a book called "The Hipster Handbook" that made up fake "hipster" slang thinking that someone would fall for it

The only thing in common between the hipsters of the mid 20th century and those of today is that both are associated with New York City

Jack Kerouac was an example of a 1950s hipster.

Julian Casablancas is an example of a 21st century hipster

by Rattus cattus July 6, 2006

122👍 312👎


hipster

a rare breed of animal usually spotted at the blackcat in DC (not on nights of popular shows, but rather on nights with a no name band that most likely sucks). current hipster trends include (but are not limited to) trucker caps, dyed black hair, zelda haircuts for girls, vintage clothing, black frame glasses, a "hipster" jacket, pair of black chuck taylors, etc.

dude 1: yo, let's go down to the blackcat to see deathcab.
dude 2: no way, i hate them.
dude 1: you liked them last week!! you're getting too hipster. i hate you.
dude 2: don't hate.

by marduk420 November 24, 2004

28👍 61👎


HIPSTER

someone, usually a teenager or 20something, who adheres to a counterculture ranging from indy-rockers to neo-hippies to skaters. they tend to define themselves by the music they listen to, and the outlandish clothes they wear. hipsters are opposed to other countercultures like goths, metal-heads, and gangstas, and they also avoid preps, eurotrash, white trash, and jocks

question: why does he only listen to bands that are never played on the radio?
answer: he's a hipster

by minghi April 27, 2003

135👍 354👎


Hipster

Paul (Dylan) Tummina

"The other i was listining to this band youve probably never heard of because im a hipster thats cooler than you!"-Dylan(paul)

by Rac95 March 8, 2011

3👍 3👎


Hipster

A hipster is a group that basically poses of other groups, like emo and prep. They wear either tight girl jeans or colored skinny jeans, a tight shirt with a lame band logo (My Chemical Romance) on it, piecerings (like snakebites), a emoish hairdo, and sometimes a bandana

Oh my god! That kid is a hipster! I want to kill him!

Hipsters listen to MSI.

by Kyle Kilgannon September 29, 2008

12👍 22👎