Robert Lanham's Notable Attempt at Deconstructing Hipsterism

Robert Lanham, the author of the satirical Hipster Handbook, continues the social commentary in a more serious fashion with this article, "Look at This Fucking Hipster Basher":

"First and foremost, hipsterism is about stuff. It's the natural byproduct of a consumption-obsessed culture with a thriving middle class. The complete works of Johnny Cash on vinyl. An iPhone packed with apps. Thick-framed glasses without the lenses. Throw in an unwavering certainly that your tastes are superior to everyone else's, and you're on your way to establishing a hipster aesthetic. Future generations may not have the same resources to squander, but there will undoubtedly continue to be artistically inclined young people who define their identity and their aesthetic, by accumulating meticulously selected possessions.

The second element is pastiche, the hodgepodge blending of elements from pop culture to create a sensibility. Whether it be the goofy 'post-punk-electro-blog-house' labels associated with hipster music, or the entire film career of Wes Anderson, pastiche is essential to hipsterdom. And clearly, as our already overwhelming inventory of pop culture references continue to grow with the passing of time, pastiche will continue to flourish.

Finally there's irony, a knee-jerk way for hipsters to emotionally distance themselves from sincerely appreciating things. While the hipster's ironic sensibility has always been the subject of ire, pretending to be disaffected isn't exactly a novel concept among people who are 'cool.' The James Deans and Fonzies of the world never got the girl by gushing. Instead, they made them swoon by pretending they didn't give a damn."

As silly as the topic is, I find this to be really well-written. Read the rest here.