What Was the Hipster?
A friend informs me that N+1‘s symposium on “What Was the Hipster?” is the “the obnoxious superfluous leather headband of symposium panels.” That sounds about right, but frankly, I don’t care. I’m desperate to go. It’s an academic panel via geeky scenester chic; I can’t imagine that it’s being done with anything less than full appreciation of its irony. Like The Film Snob’s Dictionary and The Hipster Handbook, great, awesome-kitsch books, both of which I display proudly on the bookshelf behind my workspace* (right next to Optimus Prime!), it’s an effort at capturing and toying with the essence of ironic knowingness. Is it necessary? Good god, no. Is it interesting, funny, amusing, strange, silly, glib, clever, smirkingly charming? Of course, and thank goodness.
*See below.
If you’re openly excited about a hipster symposium, are you still allowed to attend?
— Dara Lind · Apr 10, 05:37 AM · #
Dara, that might be a good point, it may not. But whatevs. I’m going to ignore it. I WOULD PAY MONEY (if I were employed, and had such a thing) TO GET TO THIS.
— Peter Suderman · Apr 10, 06:14 AM · #
I remember receiving The Hipster Handbook when I worked at my college’s newspaper and the uproar that ensued in the newsroom. Best Part – The absolute hatred of white dudes with dreads
— Andrew Fly · Apr 10, 07:54 PM · #
Wait, this is in New York, and free!? Damn, Peter, I’ll see you there, and I see your excitement and RAISE IT TWO EXCLAMATION POINTS!! I think the point is to be openly excited, or else you are assumed to be a hipster. It’ll be like a National Geographic symposium on the animal called “a hipster”.
— Andrew Fly · Apr 10, 08:07 PM · #
You should call Belle Waring and see if she’s free.
— cw · Apr 11, 01:37 AM · #
PS. As a graduate of THe Hair Experiment State College I would be happy to answer any question anyone might have on Hipsters and Hipseirisms.
— cw · Apr 11, 01:41 AM · #