Does 'Hipster' automatically equal Brooklyn? [now w/video!]
Subject: Does 'Hipster' automatically equal Brooklyn? [now w/video!]
In two articles in the NY Times recently (one about Fair Trade Coffee and the other about fixed wheel bicycles), the Times has equated "hipsters" with Brooklyn.Is this a default now? Are there any hipsters left in Manhattan, or if they live in Manhattan, would they not be considered hipsters? What about Queens? Do they have any?
I'm curious what everyone else thinks. If this was word association and someone said hipster, how many words it takes until you get to Brooklyn (or a subset thereof, e.g. Williamsburg)? Any non-Brooklynites have a thought on this?
this isn't an indictment of hipsters, just an exploration of what the term is coming to signify geographically.
Comments
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While I have my own ideas, I'd also be interested in seeing some definitions of hipster from you guys..! other than being from Brooklyn.
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A slight correction. Hipsters are not "from" Brooklyn. They tend to be from Ohio, or Tallahassee, or someplace else. Then they come here and adopt the "more New York than you" pose that is part of the essence of true hipsterdom. Real New Yorkers are almost never hipsters.
cheflady wrote: While I have my own ideas, I'd also be interested in seeing some definitions of hipster from you guys..! other than being from Brooklyn.
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Interesting...so what is a "real" hipster?
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There are hipsters everywhere. Any college town and large city will have a higher concentration.
also this is a pretty good definition.
hipster
1. Any kind of person most likely aged under...oh 35, who participate in some kind of youth subcultural urban clique; from punk, to indie rocker, goth, straight edge, metalhead, hip-hop, etc. They are fairly likely to know a great deal about their own world and very little about anyone else's.
2. A grand tradition of respected pop-cultural icons, from Oscar Wilde to Charles Bukowski to Andy Warhol to the Vice Magazine founders, who despite their influence, really kind of suck.
3. Throngs upon throngs of urban centric teengers and twenty-somethings who congregate in the "hip" neighborhoods of a town and all dress disturbing alike. They try to one step ahead of trends in clothes and music, seeking out vintage fashion and independant bands. Their shortcomings include:
a) most-likely an upper/middle class upbringing
b) general snobbery (or social-ineptitude mistaken for it) towards not only those not "with it" but also an unfamiliar hipster
c) a disposition of only liking things not totally excepted by the mainstream
d) alcoholism
and e) bad haircuts.
Their exceptional qualities:
a) despite what some detractors might assume, they are one of the more racially inclusive scenes in an urban setting
b) they aren't too picky about beer
c) if you need one of them to give an opinion when shopping for clothes or records, they will be invaluable...provided they don't scoff at you first
and d) that band you love never would have gotten anywhere if the hipsters weren't into them first. -
My own personal definition of hipsters is people who have spoilt and given a bad name to all the kind of stuff I've liked since the 70's. :evil:
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Subject: too hip?
Santa wrote: 1. Any kind of person most likely aged under...oh 35, who participate in some kind of youth subcultural urban clique; from punk, to indie rocker, goth, straight edge, metalhead, hip-hop, etc. They are fairly likely to know a great deal about their own world and very little about anyone else's.
If #4) were "in a band that's been going no where for years" you just described art college.
2. A grand tradition of respected pop-cultural icons, from Oscar Wilde to Charles Bukowski to Andy Warhol to the Vice Magazine founders, who despite their influence, really kind of suck.
3. Throngs upon throngs of urban centric teengers and twenty-somethings who congregate in the "hip" neighborhoods of a town and all dress disturbing alike. They try to one step ahead of trends in clothes and music, seeking out vintage fashion and independant bands. Their shortcomings include:
a) most-likely an upper/middle class upbringing
b) general snobbery (or social-ineptitude mistaken for it) towards not only those not "with it" but also an unfamiliar hipster
c) a disposition of only liking things not totally excepted by the mainstream
d) alcoholism
and
e) bad haircuts.
The diff I see with your #2. (Oscar Wilde, Charles Bukowski, Andy Warhol, and others) is that before these people became icons they were innovators. Most hipsters seem to like the pagentry but don't seem very avante with their guarde.
Does anyone remember the last time when 40 guys with mohawks in a crowded room seemed intimidating? -
Subject: Brooklyn Hipsters
In many circles, "hipster" has a negative connotation. Of course, if you are a hipster, it doesn't really matter, since you find all non-hipsters sort of boring and uninteresting to begin with ...
Hipster - A person who through experience and knowledge is able to create an independent view of the world not connected with mainstream thought or culture. Only experience through action in life can make you a hipster.
So, remaining with the idea that a 'hipster' is not a negative description.
Brooklyn definitely has many hipsters ... and its a good thing. Not all of Brooklyn, however, use to have or currently does have hipsters. I myself, being on the verge of being an aging hipster, know they have been around for years. Who do you think started the revitalization of Park Slope in the 1970's? Those people were certainly 'hip.'
Of course, as with any group ... we have our share of hipster dufuses.
Charlesbklyn -
I prefer to think of myself as a bohemian rather than an aging hipster ...
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hipster:
people drinking martinis at the bar at congee village for over 3 hours. RETARDED. any for reals person would know that you should at least have a goddamned pot of congee at congee village (and they've bowed to pressure - they have a vegetarian (!!!!) congee now) -
I don't know from congee and after Googling it I still don't have a clear picture (seems to be a ton of variations) but I think I might go for a vegetarian version. Except I doubt it would be as good as my usual Indian porridge breakfast (millet, coconut, onions, ginger, cilantro, jalapenos, tomato, cumin, etc. etc.)
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laura wrote: I don't know from congee and after Googling it I still don't have a clear picture (seems to be a ton of variations) but I think I might go for a vegetarian version. Except I doubt it would be as good as my usual Indian porridge breakfast (millet, coconut, onions, ginger, cilantro, jalapenos, tomato, cumin, etc. etc.)
yum!
frankly, I prefer the dried scallop version, but I wanted to try out the totally antithetical veg version. it was lovely. and a whopping $2.50. at a restaurant in the LES. and totes filling. -
alafairnadia wrote: [quote=laura]I don't know from congee and after Googling it I still don't have a clear picture (seems to be a ton of variations) but I think I might go for a vegetarian version. Except I doubt it would be as good as my usual Indian porridge breakfast (millet, coconut, onions, ginger, cilantro, jalapenos, tomato, cumin, etc. etc.)
yum!
It's weirdly addictive. Also very good if you're flu-ish or hungover, especially if you add more red pepper and ginger. You can also make it more of a lunchtime soup by adding more water, onions, tomato, salt ... it's a bit different every time I make it.
So what's the typical congee recipe? -
Here's the Indian porridge recipe. This makes 6-8 servings ... I live alone, so I make a half recipe so it gives me enough for breakfast for three days. I use a bit less water than the recipe (which is more soupy), and a bit more than half of the masala ingredients, to make it more flavorful. Once you start making it you can just eyeball the amounts and adjust it to what you're in the mood for.
Combine and bring to boil:
2 Qts. pure water [I use a bit less]
1 tsp. Methi (Fenugreek seeds) or slightly more to taste
1/2 tsp. Ajwan (Oregano seeds) (Use sparingly, bitter)
1 Tbsp. Jheera (Cumin seeds) or more to taste
1 Cup finely chopped sweet Onion
2/3 Cup dry, unsweetened coconut flakes
1 Cup hulled dry Millet
Salt to taste
Once base boils, simmer until grain is tender [about 20 minutes]. Meanwhile, assemble in a blender:
1/2 fresh green Chile (for a mild flavor, or more to taste)
1 heaping Tbsp. chopped fresh Ginger (or more to taste)
1 medium ripe Tomato chopped
2-3 medium pitted Dates (or 1 large Majool)
1 small dry red Chile or 1/2 tsp. flakes
1 Tbsp. Dhanja (Coriander Seeds)
3 Tbsp. fresh Cilantro (or more)
3 Tbsp. fresh coconut meat (optional)
Blend with enough water to liquefy. Add this flavor mix (Masala) to the base stock when grain is tender. Bring to boil again and simmer 10-15 minutes to combine flavors [I only simmer for another 5-10 minutes]. Adjust seasoning. Increase hotness with a pinch of Cayenne.
This may sound like a lot of work but it isn't at all. I have a cute little mini-blender to whip up the masala so cleanup is easy. I don't bother with fresh coconut but I like to mix in a bit of coconut oil, and garnish with a bit of chopped tomato and cilantro.
Oh, and I also like to kind of toast the millet just a bit in the pan before adding the water and other ingredients. -
laura wrote: [quote=alafairnadia][quote=laura]I don't know from congee and after Googling it I still don't have a clear picture (seems to be a ton of variations) but I think I might go for a vegetarian version. Except I doubt it would be as good as my usual Indian porridge breakfast (millet, coconut, onions, ginger, cilantro, jalapenos, tomato, cumin, etc. etc.)
yum!
It's weirdly addictive. Also very good if you're flu-ish or hungover, especially if you add more red pepper and ginger. You can also make it more of a lunchtime soup by adding more water, onions, tomato, salt ... it's a bit different every time I make it.
So what's the typical congee recipe?
congee is a rice porridge - the plain version is rice that's been simmered for hours with garlic and ginger, topped with chopped green onion. typical versions have pork, thousand year eggs, squid, chicken, tripe, sausage, dried scallop, etc. I'm a bit squeamish about a lot of that stuff so I tend to go for the dried scallop version and mix in tons of lovely garlicky hot sauce. I also like the chicken and thousand year egg version. unfortunately, most places where I order this, the wait staff don't speak english so my chinese speaking friends come in super awesome. oh, the crab version also good.
I'm going to attempt to make your porridge when I acquire those spices/ingredients. sounds yumtastic. -
or are they hundred year eggs? I'm very hyperbolic
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alafairnadia wrote: or are they hundred year eggs? I'm very hyperbolic
I think they're called both. Still sounds scary to me. -
laura wrote: [quote=alafairnadia]or are they hundred year eggs? I'm very hyperbolic
I think they're called both. Still sounds scary to me.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Century_egg
I is scared. -
Yeah, they're inclusive, as long as you walk, talk, think, and and act exactly as they do. Otherwise they're the most hateful people on the planet.
a) despite what some detractors might assume, they are one of the more racially inclusive scenes in an urban setting -
Tex Antoine wrote: despite what some detractors might assume, they are one of the more racially inclusive scenes in an urban setting
Debatable. A token scattered here and there doesn't mean inclusive to me. -
Actually they're utterly useless in terms of giving opinions because their hive mind mentality blinds them to influences that fall outside their hermetically sealed circle of "approved" records/books etc.
And the idea that hipsters help break bands into the mainstream is laughable. Hipster musical tastes tend toward the unlistenable--the Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and Yeah Yeah Yeahs of the world come to mind. They valorize musical acts that have no chance of gaining mainstream acceptance so they can safely scoff at those of us who like bands that do.
c) if you need one of them to give an opinion when shopping for clothes or records, they will be invaluable...provided they don't scoff at you first
and d) that band you love never would have gotten anywhere if the hipsters weren't into them first. -
well first off all I stole that definition from Urban Dictionary and didn't mean to pass it off as my own.
Also hipster is a silly term used for alot of different people. Anyone from the overly fashioned and tatted hair stylist to the faux redneck guy wearing flannel and wranglers to the dorky kid listening to some obscure electronic music all are considered hipsters.
It seems silly to denounce a group of people which really isnt a group of people at all but rather many different groups bunched together under a over arching word. Kind of like hating all people from Europe and calling them "Europeans" and ignoring the fact that Spain and Poland are both in Europe and drastically different from one another.
but while we are saying nasty shit about hipsters, most people that are labeled "hipsters" are completely worthless and contrived. Maybe thats because I'm not as good looking as they are.
p.s. quoting Woody Guthrie is a pretty hipsterish thing to do. -
i got called a hipster once for being a pro brooklyn person
. i feel dirty. -
Isn’t a hipster anyone on the cutting edge of fashion, art, and cultural trends, who is keenly aware of and reinforces the latest ideas and styles?
If you are wearing tomorrow’s shirt, but eating yesterday’s haute cuisine and discovering last year’s cliché-ridden self-help book, you are not a hipster, but simply a fashionably dressed person. -
Two years ago I needed a new jacket and let my little sister pick it out. I didn't have a girlfriend and Project Runway hadn't yet taught me all that I know now. She chose a green Calvin Klein khaki-type get-up. I thought it looked good.
So I wear it out one night. After a few beers my old friend Brian makes a comment about how I look like a "hipster" in my jacket and t-shirt. He snorts derisively.
I turned red and haven't worn the jacket comfortably since.
I'm not sure what my point is.
I will say this, however. I love it when people come from Williamsburg to enjoy Prospect Park. They are so cute when they get all turned around and lost. -
I'm too old to be a hipster and too young to be a hippie. I've never been "hip".
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windowdressing wrote: Two years ago I needed a new jacket and let my little sister pick it out. I didn't have a girlfriend and Project Runway hadn't yet taught me all that I know now. She chose a green Calvin Klein khaki-type get-up. I thought it looked good.
I can see where you might feel weird about that. Hipsters have a rep for being like the popular clique in high school - they separate themselves from the unpopular by conforming rigidly to the dress code and behavior of the clique, and then sneer at outsiders.
So I wear it out one night. After a few beers my old friend Brian makes a comment about how I look like a "hipster" in my jacket and t-shirt. He snorts derisively.
I turned red and haven't worn the jacket comfortably since.
I'm not sure what my point is.
But that's not you, is it? You wore the jacket because you like it. Why should you be made to feel bad because of your taste?
IMO, your friend was the one acting like a hipster. -
"Does 'Hipster' automatically equal Brooklyn?"
"Yes."
That ends today's episode of East Answers for Easy Questions. -
My word. This post is really setting the blog on fire:
http://www.dailyslope.com/2007/04/30/does-hipster-automatically-equal-brooklyn/ -
damn, who knew hipsters could make brooklynians feel such ire?
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alafairnadia wrote: damn, who knew hipsters could make brooklynians feel such ire?
Wow. I thought it was just Park Slope toddlers who provoked so much resentment.
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