You may not be one, but there are hipsters among us
Wherever I go I seem to run into a hipster. There are certainly quite a few in my own office, and while I was at court covering trials some sheriffs and lawyers have slowly revealed themselves for the hipsters they are.
In case you are wondering what a hipster is, you probably aren't one — for it is a word we tend to bestow upon ourselves.
Let's put it this way — if you've ever overheard a lengthy conversation regarding the best quotes from a movie you fell asleep through, and thought, "What a geek!" — well, you were in the presence of a hipster.
Arguably there are different types.
According to the AV club (the Internet bible for hipsters and an offshoot of the Onion website) a hipster is a person who is up on all things "hip" in their chosen pop culture medium.
Of course, there are fashion and food hipsters — they know what's going on in their own subcultures.
The word hipster apparently derives from the word "hep" —as in, "He was a real hep cat" and the era of beatniks. That word developed in to what we know as hip — from hip to hippie, the connotation changing slightly with each generation until we come to the hipster.
But this being an arts column I am more interested in talking about "hip pop culture" — keeping in mind that does not include Three and a Half Men or American Idol or What Happens in Vegas...
Whether music or film, or television, a hipster can be counted on to delve deep into their favourite bands or shows.
In this case, they are in search of things on the fringe —popular, but alternative to the mainstream.
In other words, they are the expert on a very specific base of knowledge.
An expert, yes, but keep in mind this is not usually their day job. After all, how many people can get paid to write day in and day out about the Arcade Fire?
Instead hipsters take great pride in blogging or talking to people who share their specific knowledge of Arrested Development.
Think of it this way — you may enjoy the show, in reruns on CBC — but did you know the show was almost saved from cancellation on FOX when Showtime was willing to buy it, but the creator turned it down because the money wasn't good enough?
I know what many are thinking? What is the use in knowing that tidbit of information. But the fact is, hipsters are all over the place, particularly in Miramichi.
With changing technology and the globalization of everything, it becomes easier and easier for people in small towns to be the ones most educated on this popculture subculture.
You know you're a hipster when:
• You spend more time blogging about Battlestar Galactica than the hour it takes to watch it.
• You decide what movies to watch based on director, cinematographer, and screenwriter rather than whether or not Julia Roberts is in it.
• Your massive DVD collection is categorized by director — and definitely not alphabetical.
• You love to talk about how everyone else's music taste sucks — and the only time you listen to the radio is to remind yourself how much better the music you listen to is.
• Your favorite weekend wardrobe probably is a t-shirt with a rubber print of "Rushmore Academy," or "Operation Hennessey," or at least some 80s reference to Nintendo.
Reporter Laura MacInnis covers the court beat and is exploring Miramichi arts and culture in this column.
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