April 2011 Article 7

April 2011 You Might Be A Hipster Allison Suesse Iowa State University

Andrew Lopez Iowa State University

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Recommended Citation Suesse, Allison and Lopez, Andrew (2011) "You Might Be A Hipster," Ethos: Vol. 2011 , Article 7. Available at: http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/ethos/vol2011/iss3/7

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Publications at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Ethos by an authorized editor of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Culture QUICKIES | Design & Illustration JAYMI PHAM you might be a HIPSTER

By ALLISON SUESSE & ANDREW LOPEZ

Between liberal use of the word “epic,” penchant Cardigan or jacket? but I think it’s better to be self-aware rather for flannel, ironic moustaches, and PBR, hipsters Depends on the season. I have a few vin- than in denial. are easy targets for criticism. However, they still tage jackets, but I like to wear cardigans Is being a ‘hipster’ an inner/personality manage to exude a “way-cooler-than-thou” con- when it’s spring or when you need some- thing or an aesthetic thing? fidence. This demeanor is probably achieved by thing under your winter jacket. There’s both sides of it. I don’t know a lot of knowing mainstream society hasn’t heard of their people that dress like a hipster and don’t favorite band and by sporting overpriced Urban Five years ago… have the taste or lifestyle of one, but I do Outfitters skinny jeans. So it’s possible the coun- How many flannel shirts did you have? know a lot of people who like all the same terculture that regrettably popularized the “chill- I bought two of my flannel shirts junior year things I do and have super awesome taste wave” music genre is misunderstood. Ames, for in the men’s section of Gap. but wear boot-cut jeans and graphic t-shirts example, is home to a group of self-aware kids Did you wear skinny or loose jeans? every day, and they don’t do it for the sake who realize they’re part of the hipster culture, and Loose. of irony, that’s just how they roll. are totally chill with it. PBR or Miller High Life? I’ve been twenty-one for a day and a half now and still haven’t had a PBR yet. NOW THEN I’m long overdue. & Five years ago… What were you listening to? Oh man, probably like Anberlin and Relient K, haha. I stared to get into Death Cab and ISAAC SCHMIDT Bright Eyes in 2006 though, they’re still two (chill, super nice guy hipster) of my favorite bands.

What are you listening to right now? I’ve had Tokyo Police Club thumpin’ for like two weeks now. I’ve had somewhat of CHELSEA RUEDE a Tokyo Police Club revival in light of the (aesthetically sporty hipster) awesome weather last week. I’ve also been jamming to a lot of Neutral Milk Hotel lately, What are you listening to right now? and Local Natives have been a big-time Some electronic music like The Presets and favorite ever since I saw them at Pitchfork- Justice. I also have some ABBA, Fiona Ap- last summer. ple, Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Bush. Do you think hipster is a negative or posi- SAM HACKERSON Mac or PC? tive term? (thift store hipster) Mac. I had a PC for a while and I switched. I’m fine with the term, I don’t see any reason Flannel or stripes? to get offended. A lot of people I know that I What are you listening to right now? Flannel would classify as hipsters don’t like the term The new James Blake is pretty terrific. Tyler

While browsing “Look at this Fucking Hipster,” But really, I HAAAATE LOVEEEE Kanye. YOU MIGHT BE A 3 you recognize a friend’s picture posted on 7 the site. You decide not to be friends him or You’re white and say the word swag. HIPSTER IF. . . her because you don’t want to associate with 8 “hipsters.” Text someone that you’re too poor to go to the You post a link of your other Tumblr You did that before anyone else. 9 show from your Iphone 4G. 1 on your Tumblr. 4 You hate to love - yet love to hate - Pitchfork. You’re just a cool, creative, and awesome Blog about the alienating effects of technology 5 10 person who is into cool stuff and gets judged. 2 on your MacBook. 6 You’re in too many “bands”. Haters.

10| We make the hipsters fall in love. the Creator, I really like him and his crew­ What did you do before anyone else? Five years ago... OFWGKTA. I like everything, I’m pretty Shave the back of my head. What were you listening to? eclectic. RelientK, Switchfoot, Mute Math, Sanctus Do you think hipster is more of a personality Five years ago… Real, Falling Up thing or aesthetic thing? What were your clothes like? How many flannel shirts did you have? For me, the parts of myself I would consider A lot of little patterns like little guns or little One pretty dank one I think. hipster-y are more aesthetic. I think the at- tulips. And then I had sneaker flats from titude that’s associated with it is not some- Vans that had a bunch of little patterns. thing I really have, the negative attitude Did you wear skinny or loose jeans? anyway. I think it’s both, though. Skinny Flannel or stripes? Stripes. How tight are your skinny jeans? Fairly. I’d say the pockets are still accessible. I can still fit my phone in my pocket. House shows or venue shows? Ames doesn’t have house shows very of- ten, but if you find a house that constant- ly hosts touring bands, that’s the perfect TONY LA BAT happy medium. KEVIN BERGERON (music lover hipster) Five years ago… (biker hipster) What are you listening to on your iPod? What were you listening too? Mumford and Sons, Avett Brothers, and Ben Folds and Regina Spektor and Voxtrot What do you interpret a hipster being, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart! What were your clothes like? do you think you fit the stereotype? Is hipster an inner/personality thing or an I really liked to layer my clothes. I was very I think the single most defining characteristic outer/aesthetic describing word? persistent about having flared jeans. If it was of the hipster counterculture is alternative It goes from person to person. You will have anything I could alter or make, I would wear thought or philosophy. I think I interpret the people who ‘act more hipster’ and people it. And you could always tell I’d always al- hipster as being at least slightly alternative who look ‘more hipster’. tered it or made it. in his or her thinking relative to mainstream Dress pants or jeans? culture. Unfortunately, yes. I think I am a Dress pants. pretty stereotypical hipster. Why is that un- Cardigan or jacket? fortunate? Because being stereotypical any- Jackets! More variety. thing is to be anti-counterculture, which is Are your friends hipsters? anti-hipster. It’s a terrible circle of doom. I wouldn’t say they are. A few of them Fixy or geared bike? could be, but it’s whatever! I’ve never really Fixies are taking over Ames. I think I’d ride a thought about it. I hang out with people I geared bike over that. like, regardless of what they like. Everyone Is your moustache ironic? love everyone! If I had one it would be. I can’t really grow a CARA GRULA Miller Highlife or PBR? good one, so it would be a joke. However, if I Fuck beer! (ironic hipster) could grow a good one, I think I would take it terribly seriously. Five years ago… What are you listening to right now? PBR or High Life? What were you listening to? Lady Gaga and Ke$ha If I want to be associated with my hipster Van Halen, Babyface (which is hilarious and Do you think hipster is a negative or posi- brethren, or I want a cheap beer on tap at still awesome, by the way) and Beck. I still tive term? Thumbs, then I drink PBR. But, honestly… I listen to them from time to time. It depends. If you’re calling me a hipster it’s think I like High Life better. I can just see all What were your clothes like? positive. Because that’s what I strive for. of my friends reeling back in shock and dis- Full windbreaker jumpsuit and baggy jeans. Dress pants or jeans? may as they read this. Dresses, there’s no waistband

Things that hipsters liked before they became mainstream, thus becoming un-cool:

1. Arcade Fire 5. Ray Ban knockoffs 8. Saying “Black Swan should have won.” 2. Cats 6. Kings of Leon. 9. Kanye. Never mind. He’s a genius. 3. Knitting And not liking Kings of Leon. 10. Hipsters. 4. Being unemployed 7. Longboards

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