Hipster. I think most everyone is familiar with the term. I am not sure that everyone knows exactly what a hipster is. If you were to ask someone around campus you’re answers may vary from descriptions of what hipsters wear, to things that hipsters like. I don’t think you would find the definition.

When I was preparing to write this, I had to think to myself, what is the definition of hipster? I did the same thing I expect most people would do, describe what they look like, and what they like. The irony for me, is that I am a hipster. I have a pair of Moleskine notebooks sitting next to me while I type on my Macbook. I love vintage stuff, I listen to records, and I have a cool old 10 speed bike that I’m planning on fixing up for the spring. I refuse to go to Starbucks because I believe I can make my own coffee better, or find an independent coffee shop that’s free from a soulless corporation. Alright, so that last bit about the soulless corporation may be a bit of an exaggeration, but the rest of that is true. If you wanted to understand what hipsters like just go to an Urban Outfitters, that’s not what this is about. This is about defining a misunderstood culture.

I suppose that’s the reason I have struggled with writing this post. How can you define something so diverse? Not just hipster culture, but any culture. Essentially I would be stereotyping the group. The only sensible way I see shed light onto what this group of people are, is to document what they are and let them speak for themselves.

From my personal experience, hipsters tend to have a “thing”. Something that they are heavily invested in. Tony DeGenaro, for example, is a music junkie. He has a pretty impressive record collection, and listens to a lot of music, that even I have never heard of before. As for myself, I’m into film and photography. I spend most days watching documentaries on netflix, or browsing through short films on vimeo, and looking through tumblr to find interesting photography, as well as working on some of my own projects.

Being a hipster isn’t about the clothes you wear, the music you listen to, or how underground that new thing you like is. It’s not about caring whether something is cool. It’s not about fitting in, or standing out. It’s about doing what you love. Enjoying what you enjoy. And being yourself, even if that means you’re a hipster.