Saturday, October 21, 2006
You, you, and maybe not you
So, in an attempt to procrastinate while I still can, I've been doing a lot of wedding planning this past week. The guest list has been the most daunting and controversial part so far, and has crept from what was going to be a small intimate wedding to one where people gasp when they hear the number (no it's not actually that bad, but it's nearing twice the original number). So what do I do?
Wedding planning websites unanimously say: invite who is important to you now. People you meet later, or people you've lost touch with, will apparently understand that they weren't fully in your life at the time, and didn't deserve the $x a plate you would pay to have them there.
My big dilemma, however, is the parents' side of the guest list. My parents, much like myself, hang out with people with means higher than their own. Meaning: they're invited to just about every wedding no matter how fringe they may be, but to reciprocate the niceties is difficult, but necessary. I don't care what the wed-sites (yes, my own creation) say, but you can't not reciprocate, it is still just rude.
That said, how do people strike a happy medium? My parents and I have a decidedly larger social net than Kevin and his family, even with half our family not coming from Taiwan. As the hosts of the reception, that is normal, but to what extent? I wanted a small celebration of 200 max, but if my parents are going to reserve half of that for their friends, I'm going to need my friends there to compensate and actually have fun (crazy Asian parents trying to be young is a great thing, but I have a feeling it may be harder for Kev & his family to grasp than crazy Asian young adults).
Anyone have any tips? Most people I know haven't gotten married, and those that have had much larger affairs than I am going for (funny contrast: most of Kevin's friends who get married have smaller weddings than ours). Is it worth it to blow my entire parental budget on the food to cater that many people? Is it selfish to want to spend some of that on myself so I'm not stuck with more debt? Yes, it is still 10 months away, but I gotta get this down before I can start with the rest of it (it is the largest part of the budget, of course).
My mother and I struck a deal earlier this summer without laying down exactly how we were going to do it. It was a great breakthrough for us working through a conflict, but I don't think it's paying off at all. Deal was: she can invite whoever she wants as long as it doesn't affect how much budget I get for non-reception related things. Problem is, adding people at all intrinsically decreases my budget. I can't really ask her to split the guest count into two and then make her pay for her friends out of the budget on her own dime (well, I guess that was the original deal). They're being generous enough to pitch in at all (I always assumed it'd be all on me), and I can appreciate that.
That said, there are several priorities, some of which have already been met: the place had to have an outdoor ceremony and on-site reception, surrounding buildings needed great architecture (hey, you can save money on decor!), it would have some more casual elements (to loosen up the atmosphere and reflect our no-frills relationship), and family had to be there.
I can safely say my closest friends are all in the bridal party or will hopefully be helping out in other ways (haven't asked yet), so having them there will not be a problem. My family in the States will probably all come, although the entire half that's still in Taiwan probably won't (which sucks). Kevin's family, friends, and his parents friends (all put together) take up maybe the same amount as my parents friends alone (not including family), so he's being great about that.
Now it's time, since I've built up the list, to start paring it down. Probably will let it simmer until I go home in December, but it will be many tearful nights with my parents to figure this part out, because it has to be a give and take. Is it horrible to want more of my friends there than my parents friends? It's not a competition, but if my parents are being "allowed" to invite so many people, shouldn't I, as the bride, get whoever I want too? Yes, I realize I'm going a little bridezilla on y'all right now, but I'm still trying to figure it out.
As Cari reminds me every once in a while: it only happens once. Do what you want.
Wedding planning websites unanimously say: invite who is important to you now. People you meet later, or people you've lost touch with, will apparently understand that they weren't fully in your life at the time, and didn't deserve the $x a plate you would pay to have them there.
My big dilemma, however, is the parents' side of the guest list. My parents, much like myself, hang out with people with means higher than their own. Meaning: they're invited to just about every wedding no matter how fringe they may be, but to reciprocate the niceties is difficult, but necessary. I don't care what the wed-sites (yes, my own creation) say, but you can't not reciprocate, it is still just rude.
That said, how do people strike a happy medium? My parents and I have a decidedly larger social net than Kevin and his family, even with half our family not coming from Taiwan. As the hosts of the reception, that is normal, but to what extent? I wanted a small celebration of 200 max, but if my parents are going to reserve half of that for their friends, I'm going to need my friends there to compensate and actually have fun (crazy Asian parents trying to be young is a great thing, but I have a feeling it may be harder for Kev & his family to grasp than crazy Asian young adults).
Anyone have any tips? Most people I know haven't gotten married, and those that have had much larger affairs than I am going for (funny contrast: most of Kevin's friends who get married have smaller weddings than ours). Is it worth it to blow my entire parental budget on the food to cater that many people? Is it selfish to want to spend some of that on myself so I'm not stuck with more debt? Yes, it is still 10 months away, but I gotta get this down before I can start with the rest of it (it is the largest part of the budget, of course).
My mother and I struck a deal earlier this summer without laying down exactly how we were going to do it. It was a great breakthrough for us working through a conflict, but I don't think it's paying off at all. Deal was: she can invite whoever she wants as long as it doesn't affect how much budget I get for non-reception related things. Problem is, adding people at all intrinsically decreases my budget. I can't really ask her to split the guest count into two and then make her pay for her friends out of the budget on her own dime (well, I guess that was the original deal). They're being generous enough to pitch in at all (I always assumed it'd be all on me), and I can appreciate that.
That said, there are several priorities, some of which have already been met: the place had to have an outdoor ceremony and on-site reception, surrounding buildings needed great architecture (hey, you can save money on decor!), it would have some more casual elements (to loosen up the atmosphere and reflect our no-frills relationship), and family had to be there.
I can safely say my closest friends are all in the bridal party or will hopefully be helping out in other ways (haven't asked yet), so having them there will not be a problem. My family in the States will probably all come, although the entire half that's still in Taiwan probably won't (which sucks). Kevin's family, friends, and his parents friends (all put together) take up maybe the same amount as my parents friends alone (not including family), so he's being great about that.
Now it's time, since I've built up the list, to start paring it down. Probably will let it simmer until I go home in December, but it will be many tearful nights with my parents to figure this part out, because it has to be a give and take. Is it horrible to want more of my friends there than my parents friends? It's not a competition, but if my parents are being "allowed" to invite so many people, shouldn't I, as the bride, get whoever I want too? Yes, I realize I'm going a little bridezilla on y'all right now, but I'm still trying to figure it out.
As Cari reminds me every once in a while: it only happens once. Do what you want.
Friday, October 20, 2006
The Life
One of the best things about going to journalism school in New York City is the variety and notoriety of the guest speakers you get, especially in a place like NYU. Last night, in my profile class, we had a woman, come in and speak to us about all the stories she's written for Vanity Fair. Some memorable ones that we were required to read beforehand included the one on Huntington Hartford, heir to the A&P fortune, and Saul & Gayfryd Steinberg, which is another interesting story of money lost. Apparently she's working on another rather controversial story right now, but it hasn't been published so we weren't privy to the details.
Now, this woman was quite a character. I've described some of the characters in the past that we've had in our classes. She was all over the place about her writing process (how brilliant) as well as her reporting experiences (I hope I never end up in some of those situations). It was a really great learning experience, and really shows how large the journalism network is. Apparently my professor, who writes for New York Magazine, Marie Claire, and a bunch of other magazines, is also a good friend of Judith Miller, who this other journalist knew some dirty jokes about, so she shared them, apologizing to Meryl along the way because they are friends.
It's interesting to see the establishment of journalism today. Despite the variety of publications, people mingle. They hear of each other through friends or editors, network like crazy, and eventually it's like this entire sub-community. Granted, it is quite a large one so even though both my professors this semester write for New York Magazine, I don't think they've ever met, and perhaps have only heard of each other on the fringe. But what a wide net. In one of my classes we've gotten an engineering magazine editor, Will Dana of Rolling Stone, and next week we have an editor from Outside magazine. In the other class, Vanity Fair, New York Magazine editors and writers, Wall Street Journal, and Hollywood publicists. Needless to say, professor 1 is a man, and professor 2 is a woman.
Everyone has heard of everyone else, and they have all heard of some of our more famous faculty. Nearly everyone knows Rob Boynton's book The New New Journalism, and Stephen Johnson's new book is the talk of the town. I've had more than one professor that's written groundbreaking stories for Rolling Stone, and every single one of them has written at least one book. What an interesting place.
Will I lose this network, though, when I get to LA? I know one person with contacts there in the biz, and that's the guy at SI, cuz he started in the LA market. Other than that, it is a very New York-centric industry. A heartening fact that most of this semester's guests have shared is the value of starting out in a small regional market before working your way to New York. Makes me feel better knowing that I have a chance, because sometimes it feels like I'm the only one leaving after graduation (well, I probably am). Could I possibly be better off? I doubt it. But at least I will be on par. Maybe I'll find a Sac-centric community of journalists to mingle with (Kevin has already met people from the Sac Bee & U.S. News and World Report).
Until then, I guess, I'll keep chipping away at the job openings for So Cal publications. If you know of anyone needing a writer, reporter, editorial assistant, or more, let me know. My "professional" website is http://angelinegracehuang.netfirms.com, so send them there.
Yes, I learned to shamefully plug myself over the summer working in PR, and no, I will never lose the habit.
Now, this woman was quite a character. I've described some of the characters in the past that we've had in our classes. She was all over the place about her writing process (how brilliant) as well as her reporting experiences (I hope I never end up in some of those situations). It was a really great learning experience, and really shows how large the journalism network is. Apparently my professor, who writes for New York Magazine, Marie Claire, and a bunch of other magazines, is also a good friend of Judith Miller, who this other journalist knew some dirty jokes about, so she shared them, apologizing to Meryl along the way because they are friends.
It's interesting to see the establishment of journalism today. Despite the variety of publications, people mingle. They hear of each other through friends or editors, network like crazy, and eventually it's like this entire sub-community. Granted, it is quite a large one so even though both my professors this semester write for New York Magazine, I don't think they've ever met, and perhaps have only heard of each other on the fringe. But what a wide net. In one of my classes we've gotten an engineering magazine editor, Will Dana of Rolling Stone, and next week we have an editor from Outside magazine. In the other class, Vanity Fair, New York Magazine editors and writers, Wall Street Journal, and Hollywood publicists. Needless to say, professor 1 is a man, and professor 2 is a woman.
Everyone has heard of everyone else, and they have all heard of some of our more famous faculty. Nearly everyone knows Rob Boynton's book The New New Journalism, and Stephen Johnson's new book is the talk of the town. I've had more than one professor that's written groundbreaking stories for Rolling Stone, and every single one of them has written at least one book. What an interesting place.
Will I lose this network, though, when I get to LA? I know one person with contacts there in the biz, and that's the guy at SI, cuz he started in the LA market. Other than that, it is a very New York-centric industry. A heartening fact that most of this semester's guests have shared is the value of starting out in a small regional market before working your way to New York. Makes me feel better knowing that I have a chance, because sometimes it feels like I'm the only one leaving after graduation (well, I probably am). Could I possibly be better off? I doubt it. But at least I will be on par. Maybe I'll find a Sac-centric community of journalists to mingle with (Kevin has already met people from the Sac Bee & U.S. News and World Report).
Until then, I guess, I'll keep chipping away at the job openings for So Cal publications. If you know of anyone needing a writer, reporter, editorial assistant, or more, let me know. My "professional" website is http://angelinegracehuang.netfirms.com, so send them there.
Yes, I learned to shamefully plug myself over the summer working in PR, and no, I will never lose the habit.
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Hello my name is...
So I went to the dark side last night. Madame X, a small bar tucked away off of busy Houston Street down near SoHo. It was a "Quiet Party," a stronghold in the silent dating world (yes, I will keep explaining).
Yes, Kevin and I are still together and no, I didn't meet anyone. Just part of the adventures of a journalism student trying to get a multi-faceted story. Enter "A," a pick-up artist with his own school to teach others. Been trying to get a hold of him to see him "in action" all weekend, but the late hours aren't exactly meshing with my schedule, and the quiet party is right after work, so I hit it up.
I walk up to the bar's black front, red lettering on the sign and red lights blaring from inside. Walk down a few steps and into the door, glancing at the sign that tells me how to get upstairs to the quiet part. Downstairs, the music blasts and talk flows freely. Two men in all black, the guys running the quiet party, stand outside the door to the stairs, and get my cover charge before I head upstairs.
Once through the door, talk stops and the music is soft and jazzy. First thing I see is the bar, and I'm relieved. I grab a beer and sit on down. Two seconds later, three index cards are handed to me with various greetings and introductions. Too bad I can't remember who they're from. One was from the guy sitting closest, so I jot down a reply and hand it back. I reply on the other two cards as well, but leave them sitting on the table, where they wallow away all night.
It was as I expected - the guys there were explicably single, and the girls not so much so. As in most laid-back bars I've been to, the average male age was a good 5 to 10 years older than the average female age. After the first two seconds I lost my appeal (thank goodness), and was able to sit back and watch these two other girls juggling five conversations at a time.
A came in a few minutes after I, and we "talked" through most of the event before leaving around 8:45. In the meantime, he got two numbers and danced a bit with one girl in the middle of the room. Interesting. He had his normal light-up necklace on, and was at least 5 years younger than any other guy in the room, so he was kept busy (and when he didn't he tried to look like it).
Two beers and nearly two hours later, finally headed out for some real food and going home. Woke up at 5:30 am with a pounding headache, popped in the tylenol and conked back out. Yes, I am a lightweight. But at least I'm not a regular at quiet parties.
Yes, Kevin and I are still together and no, I didn't meet anyone. Just part of the adventures of a journalism student trying to get a multi-faceted story. Enter "A," a pick-up artist with his own school to teach others. Been trying to get a hold of him to see him "in action" all weekend, but the late hours aren't exactly meshing with my schedule, and the quiet party is right after work, so I hit it up.
I walk up to the bar's black front, red lettering on the sign and red lights blaring from inside. Walk down a few steps and into the door, glancing at the sign that tells me how to get upstairs to the quiet part. Downstairs, the music blasts and talk flows freely. Two men in all black, the guys running the quiet party, stand outside the door to the stairs, and get my cover charge before I head upstairs.
Once through the door, talk stops and the music is soft and jazzy. First thing I see is the bar, and I'm relieved. I grab a beer and sit on down. Two seconds later, three index cards are handed to me with various greetings and introductions. Too bad I can't remember who they're from. One was from the guy sitting closest, so I jot down a reply and hand it back. I reply on the other two cards as well, but leave them sitting on the table, where they wallow away all night.
It was as I expected - the guys there were explicably single, and the girls not so much so. As in most laid-back bars I've been to, the average male age was a good 5 to 10 years older than the average female age. After the first two seconds I lost my appeal (thank goodness), and was able to sit back and watch these two other girls juggling five conversations at a time.
A came in a few minutes after I, and we "talked" through most of the event before leaving around 8:45. In the meantime, he got two numbers and danced a bit with one girl in the middle of the room. Interesting. He had his normal light-up necklace on, and was at least 5 years younger than any other guy in the room, so he was kept busy (and when he didn't he tried to look like it).
Two beers and nearly two hours later, finally headed out for some real food and going home. Woke up at 5:30 am with a pounding headache, popped in the tylenol and conked back out. Yes, I am a lightweight. But at least I'm not a regular at quiet parties.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Editorial Calendar
Yes, I've decided to give myself one (albeit without deadlines and dates). Here are some topics I'm dying to sound off on, but have yet to find the time to research and think about them at length (here and now is not quite the time and place).
-Double standards between gay men and gay women.
-Higher education in the media industry.
-Can parents be too encouraging?
-Morality: church, school, home or state?
-5 year predictions.
So look for those in the coming weeks, and if you've got something to say, bring it up!
Now, to get back to the grind of work/write/report.
-Double standards between gay men and gay women.
-Higher education in the media industry.
-Can parents be too encouraging?
-Morality: church, school, home or state?
-5 year predictions.
So look for those in the coming weeks, and if you've got something to say, bring it up!
Now, to get back to the grind of work/write/report.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Will you accept this rose?
So I've fallen to my lowest point ever: I watched The Bachelor last night (there was nothing else on, I swear). This season they actually have a prince, and these girls are crazy.
Of course, I've never watched the show before, so it could be that all the girls in any given season are crazy, but there is one thing I've noticed about these shows: all the women look the same. During the rose ceremony, when they flash across all the girls faces to see them in anticipation, I couldn't tell who was who.
blonde. brunette. blonde. blonde. blonde. brunette. brunette.
Like a row of powder-puffed, buffed and made-up soldiers waiting to whip the prince into shape.
Another show I watched last night, though a lot less guiltily, is Wife Swap. A California woman (can't pinpoint the place but I wouldn't be surprised to see her at Fashion Island or MV) whos mother-in-law does all the work around the house while she shops all day goes to a Texas farm, where the kids don't even get allowance for doing their farmwork. Her mission: to introduce the boys to a few luxuries and make them feel like it's okay to take care of themselves sometimes.
Yeah, yeah, you've heard it before. High maintenance woman has to go to a dump and she bitches the whole time. But this was different. Her first day, she chats all day with the boys, keeping them from their chores. When their dad gets home and finds chores undone, he commences in yelling at the kids. The woman breaks down and leaves the house, appalled that parents would scare their children into obeying. A touching moment, in a way.
This was one of the best ones I've seen. At their table-sit after reuniting with their husbands, both husbands admitted they learned something and both wives appreciated the others' impression on their households. The farm boys finally felt some love from their dad, and the spoiled California girls finally learned some limits and how to appreciate their grandmother.
Oddly enough, in this case, it was the farm mother implanted into Suburban California that was more appalling. Living on a farm, they raise what they eat, and she decided to buy a meat rabbit and planned on killing it in the backyard before making stew for dinner. Even I, the biggest meat eater I know (next to the guy in my class that likes exotic meats), would have been appalled. But it was just what the girls needed. No, they didn't kill the rabbit on television - the woman made a deal instead that if the girls did their chores, the rabbit would be spared. If not, they'd have to watch and eat it.
Sounds relatively fair, but you have to consider - one of the girls is only eleven years old. Is it right to expose such a young girl to that? I agree, centuries of people before us did this in their everyday lives and plenty of children see it everyday, on farms or in the wilderness, but it is still a shock nonetheless. Emotional scarring is relative, and in the sheltered life of suburban America, the most common aftereffect of watching animals get killed is vegetarianism (Joe, still have that video?).
The farm woman also commenced to order the two girls to made their grandmother a present - out of their designer clothes. It's one thing to ask the girls to do chores, but when you're asking them to ruin something of high monetary value (every item has a designer brand name on it), it seems a bit sacrosanct. Not that I have a high value on material goods, but to subject what other people have spent money on to damage because you feel like it isn't exactly respectful.
Now that I've bored you with the adventures of my television watching last night, I should probably get started on my homework (one 1,500 word piece due tomorrow, another due thursday). ciao!
Of course, I've never watched the show before, so it could be that all the girls in any given season are crazy, but there is one thing I've noticed about these shows: all the women look the same. During the rose ceremony, when they flash across all the girls faces to see them in anticipation, I couldn't tell who was who.
blonde. brunette. blonde. blonde. blonde. brunette. brunette.
Like a row of powder-puffed, buffed and made-up soldiers waiting to whip the prince into shape.
Another show I watched last night, though a lot less guiltily, is Wife Swap. A California woman (can't pinpoint the place but I wouldn't be surprised to see her at Fashion Island or MV) whos mother-in-law does all the work around the house while she shops all day goes to a Texas farm, where the kids don't even get allowance for doing their farmwork. Her mission: to introduce the boys to a few luxuries and make them feel like it's okay to take care of themselves sometimes.
Yeah, yeah, you've heard it before. High maintenance woman has to go to a dump and she bitches the whole time. But this was different. Her first day, she chats all day with the boys, keeping them from their chores. When their dad gets home and finds chores undone, he commences in yelling at the kids. The woman breaks down and leaves the house, appalled that parents would scare their children into obeying. A touching moment, in a way.
This was one of the best ones I've seen. At their table-sit after reuniting with their husbands, both husbands admitted they learned something and both wives appreciated the others' impression on their households. The farm boys finally felt some love from their dad, and the spoiled California girls finally learned some limits and how to appreciate their grandmother.
Oddly enough, in this case, it was the farm mother implanted into Suburban California that was more appalling. Living on a farm, they raise what they eat, and she decided to buy a meat rabbit and planned on killing it in the backyard before making stew for dinner. Even I, the biggest meat eater I know (next to the guy in my class that likes exotic meats), would have been appalled. But it was just what the girls needed. No, they didn't kill the rabbit on television - the woman made a deal instead that if the girls did their chores, the rabbit would be spared. If not, they'd have to watch and eat it.
Sounds relatively fair, but you have to consider - one of the girls is only eleven years old. Is it right to expose such a young girl to that? I agree, centuries of people before us did this in their everyday lives and plenty of children see it everyday, on farms or in the wilderness, but it is still a shock nonetheless. Emotional scarring is relative, and in the sheltered life of suburban America, the most common aftereffect of watching animals get killed is vegetarianism (Joe, still have that video?).
The farm woman also commenced to order the two girls to made their grandmother a present - out of their designer clothes. It's one thing to ask the girls to do chores, but when you're asking them to ruin something of high monetary value (every item has a designer brand name on it), it seems a bit sacrosanct. Not that I have a high value on material goods, but to subject what other people have spent money on to damage because you feel like it isn't exactly respectful.
Now that I've bored you with the adventures of my television watching last night, I should probably get started on my homework (one 1,500 word piece due tomorrow, another due thursday). ciao!
Monday, October 16, 2006
Marriage-mindedness for the MENSA set
My good friend Diane Sawyer again brought up an interesting issue on this morning's episode of Good Morning, America.
Is it harder for educated women to attract men and do they get married later?
According to a new book, "Why Smart Men Marry Smart Women" by Dr. Christine D. Whelan. According to Whelan, 90 percent of the intelligent men studied want a women as smart or smarter than themselves. The average age of marriage is also the same - late 20s, for women with higher education levels.
Just something to think about.
Is it harder for educated women to attract men and do they get married later?
According to a new book, "Why Smart Men Marry Smart Women" by Dr. Christine D. Whelan. According to Whelan, 90 percent of the intelligent men studied want a women as smart or smarter than themselves. The average age of marriage is also the same - late 20s, for women with higher education levels.
Just something to think about.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Hipsters or Whipsters?
Whoever came up with the word hipster should be shot. Those who could be considered hipsters would probably agree with that statement (except for the violent part), because that's part of what a hipster is.
Urban Dictionary gives a slew of definitions for hipster, including:
1. The modern Bohemians. A mid-twenties person who works at a low paying job, is interested in "Artsy things" Hipsters tend to swarm around the determined "Hipster" part of town, ex. Wicker Park in Chicago. Hipster Ladies should have short hair and wear thrift shop clothes and Male Hipsters should be anemically skinny to let people know that they are poor and cant afford enough food.
2. Throngs upon throngs of urban centric teengers and twenty-somethings who congregate in the "hip" neighborhoods of a town and all dress disturbing alike. They try to one step ahead of trends in clothes and music, seeking out vintage fashion and independant bands. Their shortcomings include: a) most-likely an upper/middle class upbringing, b) general snobbery (or social-ineptitude mistaken for it) towards not only those not "with it" but also an unfamiliar hipster, c) a disposition of only liking things not totally excepted by the mainstream, d) alcoholism, and e) bad haircuts.
3. Today it means what poseur meant in the 70s/80s - an insult for pseudo intellectual young people who claim to be into obscure pop culture of the past and are into co-opting cool stuff, and adopt white trash chic like trucker hats or Pabst Blue Ribbon, While being a 21st century hipster is preferable to being a gangsta, wigger, or yuppie, it's still nothing to be proud of today.
I like the third one. In the downtown mess of NYU student life (and those too old to be going to NYU but can actually afford to live down there), "hipster" is the dominant culture. The New York breed of hipster, however, many of whom do live in "hipster mecca" Williamsburg, Brooklyn, is not your typical slouchy, vintage slob, but a LV carrying, chain smoking, random-band-loving skinny kid who only hangs around with others that know their pop culture world and think everyone else should.
Unfortunately, for the non-hipster me, the journalism department is overrun with these types. Even some of our professors are these types. It is like looking at a hipster wall of blank stares when someone asks "Who's Ryan Adams?" For the record, I still have no idea, but from what I hear he's a drugged out guy who makes no sense in his music, so why should I even care, and why should you expect me to care? I don't care that you like him, just don't expect me to swoon.
It's journalists everywhere (see previous post on media sheep) who have caught the hipster bug, more in idea than in lifestyle. But it's worse when applied to hipster fare, because it catches like kindling on their stick-skinny bones. Cutesy boutiques, "alternative" bands, etc. Whatever happened to real alternative? Kurt Cobain was an alternative who was adopted by mainstream culture but never assimilated. Who is that now? High profile hipsters, like Williamsburg residents Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams, have made the "subculture" accessible and identifiable to people all over the world. No need to actually listen to any of the music, or visit any of the haunts - just flip through People magazine every week and you will get the latest hipster styles. Dangle a kitcshy accessory in front of a hipster, and you can be certain half the NYU student body will have it in a week (and all of the boutiques in Williamsburg).
It is my personal opinion that hipsters are not bad in general, but the hipster mentality can be bad when applied to the high-school-like settings such as college campuses and homogenous areas of New York. There are plenty of hipsters that you can find hanging out at bars after their day jobs as successful creative or business types, and they don't think of themselves as hipsters. They are the true hipsters. The beatniks, bohemians and beer-chuggers were not meant to be used as another earmark to judge others against, but in the vein of Kerouac and Ginsberg, were an all-inclusive, cares-to-the-wind group of vagrants.
But for now, I'm still captive to the hipster grips of my peers and professors. To all my California friends, I can't wait to get back.
Urban Dictionary gives a slew of definitions for hipster, including:
1. The modern Bohemians. A mid-twenties person who works at a low paying job, is interested in "Artsy things" Hipsters tend to swarm around the determined "Hipster" part of town, ex. Wicker Park in Chicago. Hipster Ladies should have short hair and wear thrift shop clothes and Male Hipsters should be anemically skinny to let people know that they are poor and cant afford enough food.
2. Throngs upon throngs of urban centric teengers and twenty-somethings who congregate in the "hip" neighborhoods of a town and all dress disturbing alike. They try to one step ahead of trends in clothes and music, seeking out vintage fashion and independant bands. Their shortcomings include: a) most-likely an upper/middle class upbringing, b) general snobbery (or social-ineptitude mistaken for it) towards not only those not "with it" but also an unfamiliar hipster, c) a disposition of only liking things not totally excepted by the mainstream, d) alcoholism, and e) bad haircuts.
3. Today it means what poseur meant in the 70s/80s - an insult for pseudo intellectual young people who claim to be into obscure pop culture of the past and are into co-opting cool stuff, and adopt white trash chic like trucker hats or Pabst Blue Ribbon, While being a 21st century hipster is preferable to being a gangsta, wigger, or yuppie, it's still nothing to be proud of today.
I like the third one. In the downtown mess of NYU student life (and those too old to be going to NYU but can actually afford to live down there), "hipster" is the dominant culture. The New York breed of hipster, however, many of whom do live in "hipster mecca" Williamsburg, Brooklyn, is not your typical slouchy, vintage slob, but a LV carrying, chain smoking, random-band-loving skinny kid who only hangs around with others that know their pop culture world and think everyone else should.
Unfortunately, for the non-hipster me, the journalism department is overrun with these types. Even some of our professors are these types. It is like looking at a hipster wall of blank stares when someone asks "Who's Ryan Adams?" For the record, I still have no idea, but from what I hear he's a drugged out guy who makes no sense in his music, so why should I even care, and why should you expect me to care? I don't care that you like him, just don't expect me to swoon.
It's journalists everywhere (see previous post on media sheep) who have caught the hipster bug, more in idea than in lifestyle. But it's worse when applied to hipster fare, because it catches like kindling on their stick-skinny bones. Cutesy boutiques, "alternative" bands, etc. Whatever happened to real alternative? Kurt Cobain was an alternative who was adopted by mainstream culture but never assimilated. Who is that now? High profile hipsters, like Williamsburg residents Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams, have made the "subculture" accessible and identifiable to people all over the world. No need to actually listen to any of the music, or visit any of the haunts - just flip through People magazine every week and you will get the latest hipster styles. Dangle a kitcshy accessory in front of a hipster, and you can be certain half the NYU student body will have it in a week (and all of the boutiques in Williamsburg).
It is my personal opinion that hipsters are not bad in general, but the hipster mentality can be bad when applied to the high-school-like settings such as college campuses and homogenous areas of New York. There are plenty of hipsters that you can find hanging out at bars after their day jobs as successful creative or business types, and they don't think of themselves as hipsters. They are the true hipsters. The beatniks, bohemians and beer-chuggers were not meant to be used as another earmark to judge others against, but in the vein of Kerouac and Ginsberg, were an all-inclusive, cares-to-the-wind group of vagrants.
But for now, I'm still captive to the hipster grips of my peers and professors. To all my California friends, I can't wait to get back.
