Back in November, I shared my neighbourhood report with you, about Ahuntsic. This is my last report, on a subculture. I chose hipsters. Bad choice. You’ll understand soon enough.

HIPSTERS
A subculture report.
By Andrew Koole.

Hot spots?
Hipster hotspots include: New York City, Montreal, Vancouver (new), and Portland.
How did you find them?
I found them by walking through the Plateau Mont Royal and Mile-End, sitting in cafes and watching the streets at night.

How does one become a part of this sub-culture?
It doesn’t take much to become a hipster. You simply have to like certain things, such as: beatnik poetry and writing, vintage or American Apparel clothing, foreign or independent film, cheap or locally brewed, non-mainstream beer, modern art, indie music, expensive, European cigarettes, one-speed bicycles, etc. The problem with making a list such as this though, is that it will quickly change. As soon as something is defined as “hipster,” it is shunned. Hipsters, as they have never wanted to be called, will stop at nothing to avoid being pinned down. As soon as anything catches the ear of mainstream culture, it is avoided.

Key traits?
Well, I’ve mentioned a few already in the answer above, but I guess there’s more to it. One thing I’ve noticed about hipsters is their ability to enjoy life. I never met anyone resembling hipsterdom that was uptight or outwardly angry about things. Again, it’s difficult to list key traits of a group that prides itself on avoiding labels.

Why are they here in Montreal?
Montreal is one of the Meccas of the hipster sub-culture. For the most part, this is because of its art and music “scene.” In order to understand why there are so many of them in Montreal, we really have to understand why artists come to Montreal. The city has become a symbol of everything Western. It is where North America and Europe collide. Hipsters come to Montreal because they can find everything they like here.

What is attractive about and what are some benefits of being a part of this group?
The fact that hipsters are associated with everything alternative means I like most things hipsters like. I’m not a fan of European cigarettes or cheap beer, but almost everything else listed above are things that I enjoy. So naturally, I find this subculture attractive. Their philosophy of not being pinned down, although frustrating at times, is a good one for a group of young people such as them. These people have seen punk, new wave, grunge and all the rest fall into the hands of marketers and advertisers. They have begun to understand how the game works. Unfortunately, the very fact that in the last few years they’ve been given this name, “hipster,” means that their sub-culture has neared its end.

What are some problems that arise because of being a part of this group?
Many hipsters suffer from a major dose of apathy. There are reasons behind many of the choices the hipster subculture has collectively made, but many followers don’t know or care about them. Every subculture like it has dealt with the same issue. With every fashion statement, you will inevitably have posers and trend-followers. Some of the things that are now considered “hipster” are simply trends.

Also, because hipsters tend to be defined based on what they buy, the movement rarely moves past its aesthetic. Many hipsters do move past this in conversation and thought, but it is not what makes them a hipster. What makes them a hipster is what they wear. It’s hard to understand if there’s more to it.

Have they experienced any discrimination because of being attached to this group?
In reality, most people don’t know that hipsters even exist. The only discrimination they receive is from within. There are endless forums and online conversations of hipsters bashing each other (example here). Whereas most groups wear their label with pride, hipsters use theirs to scoff at each other. The worst insult you can give to a hipster is to call him or her a hipster.

How do they view society?
I think the idea is that broader society is a necessary evil and something to be avoided. Hipsters live in major cities, and are generally very accepting of others, but when it comes to interests, fashion, entertainment, etc., it is important not to take part. They participate in normal society, but with “refined taste.”

How do they think society views them?
Hipsters know that broader society barely knows that they exist as a group, and that’s the way they like it. As soon as mass culture is aware of their presence, they are in danger of being marketed.

Main interests.
Liberal arts are very popular with hipsters. I realize that is a very broad term, but hipsters are purposefully broad so that they can quickly evolve when ever mainstream culture gets too close. Music is a big deal for most hipsters. They constantly compete over who knows the most obscure band. Because the music industry has moved to the internet, mainstream culture has edged closer and closer to this aspect of hipsterdom, but music is a very fluid thing, much like the hipster. Once your favorite new band is playing on all the Late Night shows, it’s easy to ditch them for some obscure blues group from the ‘40s that no one has heard of. All things analog and “original” are interesting for hipsters; photography, vinyl, Atari or original Nintendo, etc.

Are they religious or spiritual in their thinking?
No. Again, they are very accepting of other people’s views and beliefs. Some religions are more “hipster” than others. Evangelical Christianity is the most un-hipster thing in the world (which may cause it to be extremely “hipster” within the end of the year, we’ll see). Because of their love for the original, Catholicism and Russian or Greek Orthodoxy are more attractive for the hipster than more current denominations (this may also be because these newer denominations are what their parents are part of), this or the exact opposite, emergent churches, tend to attract Christian hipsters as well (they are trying to go back to the way the early church did things, so I guess it’s even more “original”). Eastern religions have their attraction as well, but for the most part, hipsters stay pretty clear from religion. I’d say the majority of them would probably be agnostic or atheist.

How were you received by this sub-culture? Share your impressions.
Throughout my time here in Montreal, I was generally well received by hipsters. But I knew going in that this would be an impossible group to write a report on. Because I knew about their aversion to being labeled, I felt very uncomfortable confronting them about their sub-culture. Julia and I were talking to Lysanne Picard about our reports, and when she heard what I was doing, she laughed. Her roommate, she said, if you asked her if she was a hipster, “would be able to laugh and say, ‘yes.’” She said she would ask if I could interview her for my report. Lysanne asked her, and she said no. Her response was for me to put an ad on craigslist to try and find somebody. That’s how impossible it is. I researched mostly through observation.

This entry was posted on Friday, May 22nd, 2009 at 2:30 pm and is filed under Montreal, etc.. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.