Bon Iver by Jenna Diven

       The Hipster Handbook defines a hipster as "someone who possesses taste, social attitudes, and opinions deemed cool by the cool." The Handbook goes on to explain that hipsters reject anything near the mainstream. They attempt to refrain from doing anything that everyone else is doing. But, behind this love of individualism  is the same conformist attitude possessed by the type of people they despise. By doing the opposite of the masses, they became their own social circle, with everyone in that circle doing the same thing. This point of view is hypocritical to say the least.       Bon Iver epitomizes everything that is cliche about hipsters. The band categorizes themselves as an American folk band and they were created by Justin Vernon, an indie singer.  In an interview with The Current, Justin Vernon announced that he was taking a step back from music. Ideally we would assume that the band member's hiatus was caused by their need to reconnect with their families or that they decided to devote their lives to charity work and reading to underprivileged children. At the very least we could figure they realized that a full-time music career isn't what they wanted for their lives. Vernon, representing Bon Iver, was quoted saying "There's so much attention to the band...it can be distracting at times." Unfortunately, Bon Iver chose to quit making music because they become too popular. They became cool, and they didn't want the fame. If there were ever an example of people who resist the mainstream, this is it.        Many Bon Iver fans will be disappointed with this news. If anything, we should be worried about the message that Bon Iver has sent to the masses. Some would say that he's courageous for capping his fame before he became crazy from it. The truth is that Vernon is only thinking of himself and not of the kids that he could inspire or the people of all ages who would be motivated by his humble success. By handling fame and retaining his original morals, he could be an excellent example of a resistance to the corruption that seems to be an inevitable consequence of fortune and fame. Instead, they all chose to take a break when their journey stopped being so easy. The hipster attitude derailed Bon Iver's influence on the world. Just another casualty.

Works cited:
Bell, Anthony. "Bon Iver 'Winding It Down'" Allmedainy.com. All Me Diany, 25 Sept. 2012. Web. 11    Nov. 2012. <http://www.allmediany.com/articles/4812-bon-iver-winding-it-down-but-not-quitting-says-label>.

Lanham, Robert. The Hipster Handbook. Anchor Books, 2002. Digital file.

Mason-Campbell, Nilina. "Bon Iver." Pitchfork. Hall of Game, 27 May 2008. Web. 11 Nov. 2012. <http://pitchfork.com/features/interviews/7502-bon-iver/>

“I Ain’t no Hipster But I Could Make Your Hips Stir”- Kayley Hayden

In todays society the term “hipster” can mean many things. According the hipster handbook a “hipster” is an individual who possesses tastes, social attitudes, and opinions deemed cool by the cool. The Hipster walks among the masses in daily life but is not a part of them and shuns or reduces to kitsch anything held dear by the mainstream (The Hipster Handbook). In my opinion there are all types of hipsters as well as all types of different opinions about them. I believe that the hipster life style has to do with expressing a certain type of individuality in everything you do. A person can be hipster in any aspect of their life, from the old school sneakers on their feet to the ray ban glasses on their heads. Another big part of being a hipster is musical taste. Hipsters tend to stay away from anything that might be considered “mainstream” this is usually refers to the top forty songs on the radio. Basically, the hipsters musical library will consist of nothing but bands you’ve probably never heard or bands that were cool back when their parents were kids.

Hipsters tend to be fans of everything vintage this is why I would consider the “The Smiths” to fit in the category of hipster music. “The Smiths” consisted of Mike Joyce, Johnny Marr, Steven Morrissey and Andy Rourke. In an intense 5 years Between 1983 and 1987 The Smiths released almost 20 singles and 7 albums, and are recognized by the critics as one of the most significant bands of the 1980's(About the smiths). Hipsters  like the smiths because they have a very different sound than that of todays top forty hits as well as lyrics that some would consider “deep” or meaningful. Songs such as “asleep” and “please, please, please, let me get what I want” were recently featured in  “500 days of summer” and “perks of being a wall flower” which just so happen to considered very hipster type films to watch. 

         A more modern example of a hipster type band would be Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros. The members of the band include, Alex Ebert, Jade Castrinos, Stewart Cole, Josh Collazo, Orpheo McCord, Nora Kirkpatrick, Christian Letts, Seth Ford-Young, Mark Noseworthy, and Aaron Arntz. They tend to have a very different and at times old school sound. In their song “Home” you get a very different style than anything you might hear on the radio. The members of this band also dress the part when it comes to being hipster. Their album covers are always very artistic and indie as well and tend to exhibit their individuality quite accurately.

         One more different example of music hipsters might like would be in the category of underground rap. Malcolm James McCormick better known as Mac miller first started rapping in high school and was known for his witty lyrics as well as his “I don’t care attitude.” His song “Frick park market” is a good example of a song that portrays this attitude (Rap genius). One aspect that makes him different is the way he grew up. Typically popular rappers of history came out of the hood and had lived very rough lives prior to their fame. Mac miller on the other hand was raised in a middleclass two-parent household where he had a very comfortable up bringing. He also looks like the typical hipster in the way he dresses. He has many tattoos, wears snapbacks, skinny jeans, and old school sneakers. One other reason Mac miller might be considered a “hipster rapper” is because he is white. This all goes back to the days of jazz. It was said that the world’s first hipsters were “usually middle-class white youths seeking to emulate the lifestyle of the largely black jazz musicians they followed.” To me that describes Mac Miller in a nutshell (aside from the whole jazz thing.)

         These are just a few examples out of the huge cornucopia that is the hipster music library.

  "Home"- Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic zeros

Frick Park Market- Mac Miller

   

 Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want- The Smiths

"The Hipster Handbook." The Hipster Handbook. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2012. <http://www.hipsterhandbook.com/>.

"The Smiths Home." The Smiths Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2012. <http://www.askmeaskmeaskme.com/>.

"Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros: Austin City Limits Taping [Show Photos and Review]." Austinist. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2012. <http://austinist.com/2012/11/07/edward_sharpe_and_the_magnetic_zero_1.php>.

"Mac Miller – Frick Park Market Lyrics." Rap Genius. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2012. <http://rapgenius.com/Mac-miller-frick-park-market-lyrics>.