Sunday, May 31, 2009

Am I a hipster?


As I sit in my living room wishing to be in my favorite local coffee shop, but can't be because it is Sunday and they are closed by 3pm, listening to the new Grizzly Bear record in my white ipod ear muffs, I can't help but feel a part of a emerging culture I never thought I was a part of in the first place. Last night a friend of mine, Danny who is married to my friend Stephanie Joy, approached me excited to see me and tell me about their new condo purchase in the Mission District in San Fran. After explaining their condo he stated, "you would love it there since you are a hipster, everyone looks like you there man."
After spending much of last week somewhere between 4th and 3rd street in Long Beach (a hipster gathering ground) I couldn't help but think to myself, this must be some crazy irony, I am in no way a hipster. Sadly though to quote someone who feels like a dear friend of mine, yet who I am only connect to through a glowing box, Phoebe, "Thats like the pervert modo. Yea...you put one hand on your heart and the other in your pants and you recite that." Just stating "I am not a hipster" makes me feel even more like one, as I recite my practiced phrase with a hand on my heart while wearing a V-neck American Apparel Shirt, hovering over my new MacBook, listening to the new Indie Rock band that has vomited out another album, which I will like but not like.
I am not sure how or when I became a part of a movement which I had no idea I was a part of? Maybe it was during my week with Garret in Boulder, CO in late September? Maybe it was when I started questioning my daily trips to Starbucks? Or, maybe it was when I purchased my first V-neck shirt? I guess I will never know...but one think I can hope for is that in admitting it maybe it will help me get over this problem I never wish, I never knew I had. So here it goes...My name is Steven and I am a indie-coffee-shop-dive-bar-loving-V-neck-wearing-indie-rock-listening-wish-I-road-a-bike-MacBook-typing-hipster. WTF?
For more hipster love and info check our this amazing article on Hipster culture in adbusters: http://www.adbusters.org/magazine/79/hipster.html

5 comments:

Unknown said...

You don't have to classify yourself. If it means anything, to me you're just Steve.

Steven Johnson said...

Thanks Heidi, I am not really trying to but I just thought it was funny.

Aubrey said...

i like that article :) one day hipsters will be an interesting social commentary. also, thank you for the perfect friends reference.

Cat said...

this made me laugh out loud. i miss you!

marissa | Rae Gun Ramblings said...

haha you really just figured out you were a hipster. I do believe it happened right around the time you started introducing yourself as emo steve. sorry but that's why we love you