The word ‘hipster’, as it is meant today, describes a subculture of the young and urban middle-class, ranging from their late teens to early twenties. This class of people enjoy the non-mainstream, the indie, the subversive way of life.
The term ‘hipster’ today has become a blanket word for many different groups, though it is thought to have originated as an expression in the 1940s jazz age as a derivative from being ‘hip’.
Depending on which circles you mix in, being a hipster may be seen as something to be proud of or as a derogatory jibe. The stereotypical characteristics of being a hipster was famously detailed in the extremely catchy The Dickhead Song by Youtube user kinginamoy86, the lyrics of which detail the frequent usage of Instagram, warehouse raves and being an unemployed graphic designer.
There are so many explanations of specific types of hipster in So You Think You’re A Hipster? that it is surprising to see that there are very little overlapping features. The descriptions are clear-cut, the case studies varying from diary-like entries in first-person to a David Attenborough-style commentary observing a hipster in its natural habitat from afar.
Punctuated between hipster narratives, Simsek writes about other controversial aspects of life as a hipster, for example the raging debate between beard versus moustache, work-safe tattoos and pets as accessories.
My reactions to So You Think You’re A Hipster? ranged from being
somewhat amused at recognising portrayed characteristics of my friends (rockabilly, cupcake baker, Goth Lolita) to being somewhat surprised to find out that, under Simsek’s definition, I am also a hipster.
By having artsy interests and actively not listening to the awful music climbing the Top 40 charts, I am apparently living the hipster way of life. I should be offended but it has been said on many occasions.
With 50 individual classifications of ‘hipster’ with full colour illustrations by Paul Parker in Simsek’s whistle-stop tour through this moustached subculture, you might not be so shocked to find out that you’re a hipster too.
So You Think You’re A Hipster? by Kara Simsek is published by Dog ‘n’ Bone and is available to buy on the Dog ‘n’ Bone website.