**Hey peer reviewers! My note on the course overview applies here as well.**
“You Look at Me Like You’ve Never Seen a Neo-Hipster Before”
http://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/you-look-at-me-like-youve-never-seen-a-neo-hipster-before
Each generation brings with it a new group of trend-setters. The twenties had flappers, the sixties, hippies and our own generation? Hipsters. The word seems to be on the tip of everyone’s tongue, yet, what, is a hipster exactly? A good general definition seems to be that a hipster is someone who prides him or herself on individualism which is often reflected in a unique personal style. Of course, this definition, coupled with the fact that hipsters are the trend setters that they are, presents a series of problems. What happens when what’s mainstream become, well, hipster? In this article, Pacey confronts this contradictory nature of “hipsters” by using diction, language and details to suggest that hipsters in all their self-righteous dignity are really just another trend.
Pacey carefully chooses his words in order to demonstrate the paradox of hipster-ism. The word “ironically” is used ten times in the piece in order to emphasize that the speaker’s sarcastic, hipster perspective never changes. The word has a huge effect upon readers because not only is irony a pillar of what being a hipster is all about but the repetition allows readers to see that Pacey, himself is employing sarcasm and irony to describe hipsters. Furthermore, Pacey uses words such as “pleb” and “popular” and “mainstream” in order to demonstrate hipsters’ constant obsession with being completely distinct from common people. This allows the irony of the speaker’s attempt to follow hipster traditions by in fact, becoming normal to ring loud and clear.
Language also allows Pacey to create a psuedo-hipster voice. Through it, Pacey captures hipsters in their entirety: their desires to be completely unique, somehow better than those around them, and to constantly be able to say something through their style. Pacey weaves in phrases like “ so mainstream” and “they totally didn’t get it” to capitalize on the hipster obsession of being different. Furthermore, phrases like “it will take you awhile to understand, that’s all” illustrates the supposed-belief that hipsters are more advanced than others around them, because they have gained a higher understanding of the world.
Pacey marvelously uses details in order to support his work. He describes the “typical” wardrobe of hipsters as “skinny jeans and a sonic tee-shirt”. Amusing, since following the definition, a true hipster would have no “typical” wardrobe. Furthermore, Pacey describes his classic, hipster playlist of “The Decemberists, Dirty Projectors, Nouvelle Vague, Beirut, Belle and Sebastian, Tears for Fears” in order to again illustrate the hipster-ism’s twisted of irony as an original hipster would have a completely unique pool of music.
Clearly, the speaker senses the contradiction of being a hipster. However, Pacey’s solution to become a “neo-hipster” (i.e. normal) only exaggerates the problem. Therefore, through use of details, language, and diction, Pacey effectively challenges the hipster trend.
Kudos to Matthew for getting me interested in this site from his last closed reading response!
“You Look at Me Like You’ve Never Seen a Neo-Hipster Before”
http://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/you-look-at-me-like-youve-never-seen-a-neo-hipster-before
Each generation brings with it a new group of trend-setters. The twenties had flappers, the sixties, hippies and our own generation? Hipsters. The word seems to be on the tip of everyone’s tongue, yet, what, is a hipster exactly? A good general definition seems to be that a hipster is someone who prides him or herself on individualism which is often reflected in a unique personal style. Of course, this definition, coupled with the fact that hipsters are the trend setters that they are, presents a series of problems. What happens when what’s mainstream become, well, hipster? In this article, Pacey confronts this contradictory nature of “hipsters” by using diction, language and details to suggest that hipsters in all their self-righteous dignity are really just another trend.
Pacey carefully chooses his words in order to demonstrate the paradox of hipster-ism. The word “ironically” is used ten times in the piece in order to emphasize that the speaker’s sarcastic, hipster perspective never changes. The word has a huge effect upon readers because not only is irony a pillar of what being a hipster is all about but the repetition allows readers to see that Pacey, himself is employing sarcasm and irony to describe hipsters. Furthermore, Pacey uses words such as “pleb” and “popular” and “mainstream” in order to demonstrate hipsters’ constant obsession with being completely distinct from common people. This allows the irony of the speaker’s attempt to follow hipster traditions by in fact, becoming normal to ring loud and clear.
Language also allows Pacey to create a psuedo-hipster voice. Through it, Pacey captures hipsters in their entirety: their desires to be completely unique, somehow better than those around them, and to constantly be able to say something through their style. Pacey weaves in phrases like “ so mainstream” and “they totally didn’t get it” to capitalize on the hipster obsession of being different. Furthermore, phrases like “it will take you awhile to understand, that’s all” illustrates the supposed-belief that hipsters are more advanced than others around them, because they have gained a higher understanding of the world.
Pacey marvelously uses details in order to support his work. He describes the “typical” wardrobe of hipsters as “skinny jeans and a sonic tee-shirt”. Amusing, since following the definition, a true hipster would have no “typical” wardrobe. Furthermore, Pacey describes his classic, hipster playlist of “The Decemberists, Dirty Projectors, Nouvelle Vague, Beirut, Belle and Sebastian, Tears for Fears” in order to again illustrate the hipster-ism’s twisted of irony as an original hipster would have a completely unique pool of music.
Clearly, the speaker senses the contradiction of being a hipster. However, Pacey’s solution to become a “neo-hipster” (i.e. normal) only exaggerates the problem. Therefore, through use of details, language, and diction, Pacey effectively challenges the hipster trend.
Kudos to Matthew for getting me interested in this site from his last closed reading response!
I love this, you have such great insights. Although, I'm having trouble with the hipster calling themselves a hipster, it is so unhipster. I think the only thing missing is the other two parts of DIDLS, but that's reaching. Good job.
ReplyDeleteOh boy. The hipster paradox. This is great, and you break it down well, especially with the details.
ReplyDeleteThe contradiction of being 'original,' and 'apart,' and 'different,' and yet lumped in with a group's staple. Good coverage of this bullcrap, you used DIDLS well in the essay.
ReplyDeleteCassidy Murphy