There is no life without its hipster side. (Are we facing a collective hy(p)steria?)

The difference between homeless and hipster

If top fashion brands (so mainstream and purely commercial) show interest in this style, we can be more confident of the younger generation - for them, it will only be a hipster way of dressing, just like glamorous or classic elegance. Entering H&M shop I sometimes get the feeling that their new policy is to disguise customer, not to dress him. Whereas they put collections designed in collaboration with Jimmy Choo or Versace between those created due to the hard work of cool hunters, conducting undercover surveillance in hipster environment. On the other hand, this unusual research may have positive aspects. Using the results of enthusiastic hipsters’ research, we can discover new and interesting art. And I'm not talking about studying aesthetics on the example of dermatitis. I mean come on, if someone is intelligent, he’s not gullible – he is  able to independently judge whether he really likes something or if it’s just a result of mass hysteria he doesn’t want to be part of.

Theoretically, the easiest option is to lay low. Not to try, and therefore don’t have to bear the psychical costs of a possible failure. Toeing the line is the safest. The average man watches the others not only to find inspiration, authority, to think about his own aspirations. He analyzes the environment to find the median, the average and to imitate it. Facing the multitude of information, trends and technical innovations, in times of global cooling of relations between people, he desperately seeks acceptance. In order to gain it, he rejects the extreme values, like in the ski jumping, but doing that the most he can expect is not the breathtaking flight, but only sweeping snow after others’ telemarks. And it's not exactly the golden mean, but the hemorrhoids’ favorite middle. It is quite possible that one need a special mental structure to overcome the fear of failure. On the other hand, nothing gives you wings quite like a positive feedback. But it requires to take action in the first place.

Probably in every single generation there is a group of people who believe that everything has already happened and that the same things will happen again and again (nihil novi sub sole). With no doubt they are not at home with the creativity and imagination in general. Someone who wants to be a writer, doesn’t have to study the entire history of the literature first, in order to get familiar with the existing styles and to find out what subjects have already been taken up. Similarly, music producers still exist and are doing fine, because they don’t doubt that they can come up with an original melody which will ravish the audience. I dare to say that the opportunities in both of these areas are endless. Hipsters try to realise themselves as freelancers, so their decadence consists not in the lack of creativity, but the contempt for showing any emotions, getting excited about anything.[2] According to many definitions, hipsters don’t create anything new, they are just familiar with the latest trends in music and fashion. But it's hard to ignore the obvious social effect of their withdrawn attitude. Another sheep separate from the mob.

Does choosing ambitious alternative movies over the trivial American productions make one a hipster? No. Intelligent person should understand well the desire to escape the brains-straightening pulp served on television and in the cinema, in press and literature. It stems from a compelling need for independent THINKING. Fair enough, the Japanese scientists argue that a man who spends most of his life at work, and is put under a lot of pressure, sometimes needs a switch off. Therefore, he goes to the cinema to see a romantic comedy, flicks through a colorful magazine or watches some no-brainer serial on TV (or takes care of his Tamagotchi in case of inhabitants of the Land of the Rising Sun). It’s okay, as long as thinking isn’t just a change from such a lifestyle. We may say ‘yes’ to vegetarianism, but not to vegetation.

My most ‘off-the-mainstream’ friends declare that they have stopped following TV and daily newspapers long time ago. Not for the benefit of more independent sources – they rejected the idea of being up-to-date with the society in general. They sort of want to be the idiots, whom Lars von Trier presented in his movie with the same title. To resist society and the system, to evade the stress and pain, obligations and plan for the future. The perfect hedonists. But is this kind of attitude exclusively hipsters’ domain? Perhaps such a psychological structure is a product of the cyber era we live in? But ... if we all suddenly start to wear second-hand clothes and withdraw from the current political and social life, whom we will call the maverick then?

If you didn’t find the above text convincing, try yourself in a short quiz.

Are you a hipster?

1) Do you consider yourself an individualistic person?

2) Do you think you have better taste than most people around you?

3) Don’t you get tired or bored with the current political news from the world and program offer of the commercial stations?

4) Do you happen to buy a takeaway coffee?

5) Do you feel that the mainstream music becomes more trivial?

6) Do you have or wish to have an iPhone?

7) Do you agree that the sneakers are more comfortable than high heels or heavy winter boots?

8) Do you think glasses can add charm to someone?

9) Do you have something checked in your closet?

10) Are you sure that you're not a hipster even a little?

If you answered ‘yes’ to at least three of the above questions, I'm sure you already know the song I want to dedicate to you.