What Is a Hipster?

A hipster is a member of a contemporary subculture with a basis in trendy, middle-class urban lifestyles. Like most members of subcultures, hipsters are rarely self-defined and there is no unified definition. Rather, hipsters are generally identified subjectively by a series of common traits.

Origin of the Term

The term "hipster" originated in the 1940s and 1950s. It came into prominent use in jazz circles. The word was first used to describe people who listened to certain styles of jazz. It's derived from the word "hip," meaning "cool" or socially relevant. "Hip" was itself derived from "hep," which originally referred to "hop" (slang for opium). This string of connotations led to the more general use in the 1990s, but contemporary hipsters are not generally associated with 1940s hipsters, or with drug culture.

The Beat Generation

Through the 1940s and 1950s, the term "hipster" was associated with members of the Beat Generation. Writers like Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg used it to refer to individuals who lived outside of the mainstream culture and explored spiritual lifestyles. This definition held for several decades. It was not until the 1990s that "hipster" acquired a new definition.

The 1990s

In the 1990s, "hipster" again came into common use, this time referring to young, middle-class city dwellers who adhere to specific trends. Because the trends hipsters associate themselves with are constantly changing, the definition of "hipster" is likewise in a constant state of flux. Hipsters generally espouse some form of antiestablishment culture, rejecting mainstream trends in favor of alternative fashion, music or philosophy.

Characteristics

Hipsters are not confined to any specific location, though hipster communities exist in most large and medium-sized U.S. cities. Hipsters are generally young, ranging from their late teens to early or mid-thirties. As a function of their urban setting, they are a multiethnic group, often reflecting the cultural diversity of their city. Contemporary hipsters are associated with an ever-growing list of specific cultural practices and institutions, including alternative music, independent film, local media, National Public Radio, vegetarianism, organic food products, atheism, liberal political views, vintage clothing, single-gear (fixed-gear) bicycles and environmental consciousness.

Cultural Backlash

While hipsters are defined by elements of nonmainstream cultural practice, there is a contradiction in the increasing popularity and commodification of the hipster lifestyle. This has been the case for a number of fringe movements in the United States, including grunge, punk and hippie subcultures. Hipsters are often criticized for what some see as a hypocritical outward appearance of embracing radical ideas while actually adhering to a specific set of rigidly defined cultural guidelines.

Resources

• The Hipster Handbook