Including this new site "Hey, Christian Girl." Amazing.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Hipsters and Hippies: A Primer for the Uninitiated
One element which I didn't anticipate would be part of my transition West was reentry into two worlds from which I felt relatively removed in my last setting: Hipsters and Hippies.
Many will agree that Portland, OR is a hipster mecca. I know this is true because when I was last there I saw both a man wearing a brown corduroy tuxedo with tails plus a fedora and also a boutique shop dedicated exclusively to exotic salts. Many will also agree that Eugene, OR, has long been a cultural center for hippies. I know this is true because many of the children here look as though they've just escaped the set of the latest production of Peter Pan and also because there are entire booths at the community market here dedicated to selling small glass jars in which to store your marijuana.
Anyhow, for those of you who live outside these two places, I thought a short primer based on my own experience might be helpful in case you are ever forced to engage with these subcultures in the future.
HIPSTERS
UrbanDictionary.com defines hipsters thus: "Hipsters are a subculture of men and women typically in their 20's and 30's that value independent thinking, counter-culture, progressive politics, an appreciation of art and indie-rock, creativity, intelligence, and witty banter. Although "hipsterism" is really a state of mind,it is also often intertwined with distinct fashion sensibilities. Hipsters reject the culturally-ignorant attitudes of mainstream consumers, and are often be seen wearing vintage and thrift store inspired fashions, tight-fitting jeans, old-school sneakers, and sometimes thick rimmed glasses. Both hipster men and women sport similar androgynous hair styles that include combinations of messy shag cuts and asymmetric side-swept bangs. The "effortless cool" urban bohemian look of a hipster is exemplified in Urban Outfitters and American Apparel ads which cater towards the hipster demographic....." And it goes on and on like that advocating the many wonderfully enlightened attitudes of hipsters around fashion, education, gender-norms, consumerism, etc. and critiquing with great joy those who have failed to join the hipster movement. Perhaps my favorite part of the article was this, "A lot of anti-hipster sentiment evidently comes from culturally-clueless suburban frat boy types who feel that the more sensitive, intelligent, and culturally aware hipster ideal threatens their insecure sense of masculinity. Anti-hipster sentiment often comes from people who simply can't keep up with social change and are envious of those who can." Wow.
But let me provide a simpler and more direct definition: Hipsters are people who are ironically into things that suck. The irony part of hipster-dom is perhaps the most genius social development of the last decade. Hipsters have basically proclaimed a socially radical paradox: "Anything that is not cool is cool." They have thus elevated geekdom to a new level of social control and fundamentally overturned the traditional coolness hierarchy. Because now you have to be uncool to be cool. It's a whole new world. In case all this sounds too abstract to you, here are some examples of things that hipsters are into ironically, that you will likely agree suck: skinny jeans, plaid shirts, those sunglasses from the 80s with the neon rims, ripped clothing, man purses, looking slightly bored and aloof all the time, shaggy Beiber-esque haircuts. Being into all these things ironcially makes you a hispter.
A warning, though: don't go looking for hipsters to test out this hypothesis. Because the first rule of hipsterdom is don't talk about hipsterdom. That is to say, no one will ever admit to being a hipster. That would be trying to be cool and you will remember that our goal in hipster world is to be uncool and thus emerge, ironcially, into coolness. In researching for this post, I found a number of blog posts that were basic self-defensive apologies for appearing hipster-like, but reassuring readers that the authors were not, in fact, hipsters. Some of them were wearing fidoras in their profile pictures.* But you can seek out hipsters in a more clandestine fashion by downloading this hipster bingo game.
HIPPIES
Hippies are a wholly different matter. Hippies are just into things that suck without irony. Dreadlocks, patchouli oil, just smelling bad generally, drum circles, not wearing bras. There is no trace of irony in the hippies' love for such things. In fact, most hippies are too stoned to be ironic and so therefore will likely never ascend into hipsterdom.
Interestingly, hippies have done a much better job implementing some of the social-equality-idealism that hipsters claim to support. But the hippies don't care about being cool and so have not launched a PR campaign about the coolness of their accomplishments.
So there you have it. Hip/ster/ie Primer. I know you've always wondered. To sign up for a real life Safari of Hip/ster/ie life, email me to reserve a room at the LIOLI Homestead. We have openings all summer.
*Wearing a fidora does not necessarily make you a hipster, although it's a good warning sign. If your child owns a fidora, though, you're definitely a hipster.
Many will agree that Portland, OR is a hipster mecca. I know this is true because when I was last there I saw both a man wearing a brown corduroy tuxedo with tails plus a fedora and also a boutique shop dedicated exclusively to exotic salts. Many will also agree that Eugene, OR, has long been a cultural center for hippies. I know this is true because many of the children here look as though they've just escaped the set of the latest production of Peter Pan and also because there are entire booths at the community market here dedicated to selling small glass jars in which to store your marijuana.
Anyhow, for those of you who live outside these two places, I thought a short primer based on my own experience might be helpful in case you are ever forced to engage with these subcultures in the future.
HIPSTERS
 |
| Thanks to talknerdytome.org for this great image of ironic suckage. |
UrbanDictionary.com defines hipsters thus: "Hipsters are a subculture of men and women typically in their 20's and 30's that value independent thinking, counter-culture, progressive politics, an appreciation of art and indie-rock, creativity, intelligence, and witty banter. Although "hipsterism" is really a state of mind,it is also often intertwined with distinct fashion sensibilities. Hipsters reject the culturally-ignorant attitudes of mainstream consumers, and are often be seen wearing vintage and thrift store inspired fashions, tight-fitting jeans, old-school sneakers, and sometimes thick rimmed glasses. Both hipster men and women sport similar androgynous hair styles that include combinations of messy shag cuts and asymmetric side-swept bangs. The "effortless cool" urban bohemian look of a hipster is exemplified in Urban Outfitters and American Apparel ads which cater towards the hipster demographic....." And it goes on and on like that advocating the many wonderfully enlightened attitudes of hipsters around fashion, education, gender-norms, consumerism, etc. and critiquing with great joy those who have failed to join the hipster movement. Perhaps my favorite part of the article was this, "A lot of anti-hipster sentiment evidently comes from culturally-clueless suburban frat boy types who feel that the more sensitive, intelligent, and culturally aware hipster ideal threatens their insecure sense of masculinity. Anti-hipster sentiment often comes from people who simply can't keep up with social change and are envious of those who can." Wow.
But let me provide a simpler and more direct definition: Hipsters are people who are ironically into things that suck. The irony part of hipster-dom is perhaps the most genius social development of the last decade. Hipsters have basically proclaimed a socially radical paradox: "Anything that is not cool is cool." They have thus elevated geekdom to a new level of social control and fundamentally overturned the traditional coolness hierarchy. Because now you have to be uncool to be cool. It's a whole new world. In case all this sounds too abstract to you, here are some examples of things that hipsters are into ironically, that you will likely agree suck: skinny jeans, plaid shirts, those sunglasses from the 80s with the neon rims, ripped clothing, man purses, looking slightly bored and aloof all the time, shaggy Beiber-esque haircuts. Being into all these things ironcially makes you a hispter.
A warning, though: don't go looking for hipsters to test out this hypothesis. Because the first rule of hipsterdom is don't talk about hipsterdom. That is to say, no one will ever admit to being a hipster. That would be trying to be cool and you will remember that our goal in hipster world is to be uncool and thus emerge, ironcially, into coolness. In researching for this post, I found a number of blog posts that were basic self-defensive apologies for appearing hipster-like, but reassuring readers that the authors were not, in fact, hipsters. Some of them were wearing fidoras in their profile pictures.* But you can seek out hipsters in a more clandestine fashion by downloading this hipster bingo game.
HIPPIES
 |
| See centrefashion.com. It's making a comeback! |
Hippies are a wholly different matter. Hippies are just into things that suck without irony. Dreadlocks, patchouli oil, just smelling bad generally, drum circles, not wearing bras. There is no trace of irony in the hippies' love for such things. In fact, most hippies are too stoned to be ironic and so therefore will likely never ascend into hipsterdom.
Interestingly, hippies have done a much better job implementing some of the social-equality-idealism that hipsters claim to support. But the hippies don't care about being cool and so have not launched a PR campaign about the coolness of their accomplishments.
So there you have it. Hip/ster/ie Primer. I know you've always wondered. To sign up for a real life Safari of Hip/ster/ie life, email me to reserve a room at the LIOLI Homestead. We have openings all summer.
*Wearing a fidora does not necessarily make you a hipster, although it's a good warning sign. If your child owns a fidora, though, you're definitely a hipster.
Does the church have to change?
I just read two articles which represent (at least in my clouded mind) two halves of a conversation that isn't happening in the church.
The first is an article that my father forwarded to me (though I would have found it eventually if I could get through the stack of Christian Century magazines that I have on my nightstand....biweekly publications are hard to keep up with!). The article, by hipster alterna-minister Adam Copeland, was titled "Reaching Out to Young Adults Will Screw Up Your Church." The basic premise, one so frequently put forth by the young-ish hip crowd of internet saavy ministers probably funded by the Lily Endowment that I'm surprised it's even news anymore, was that average churches are too stiff to actually welcome young adults given the cultural change such youth would inevitably bring. Rather, such churches love the idea of young adults and the vitality they could contribute, a desire which is not accompanied by a willingness to adapt to their wishes. But it should be, says Copeland.
The other article is an op-ed by NYT genius commentator David Brooks. I had read it when it first came out last year, but it was sent to me again recently by a friend and I was glad to re-read it. Its premise is that we, as a culture, have created a generation of young people for whom self-discovery, individual fulfillment and person satisfaction are at the core of the vocational compass that directs their life. These youngsters are, in a sad way, ill-prepared for entering the world of adulthood which will require of them diligence, interdependence and patience. From Brooks,"Today’s grads enter a cultural climate that preaches the self as the center of a life. But, of course, as they age, they’ll discover that the tasks of a life are at the center. Fulfillment is a byproduct of how people engage their tasks, and can’t be pursued directly."
In a completely non-visionary moment that likely betrays my generation of ministers, I wonder what these two viewpoints have to say to each other. What does it mean, for instance, that the church (and with it Copeland), in response to the exodus of young people from the pews in the last few decades, is desperately trying to get them back by reinforcing the same cultural messages that Brooks claims have ill-prepared them for real life and community, namely, by playing only to their personal needs and preferences?
I work in a church of most elderly folks that in some ways fits the description of Copeland's imagined antagonist. It is, of course, a church that longs for young people among its number, and that regularly fantasizes about which changes might bring such a windfall about. (Shall we dispense with singing our favorite old hymns? Put up a screen for the song lyrics? Paint the nursery? Rename the craft group? Offer childcare?). In a way, the lack of younger faces here is sad to me because, as their pastor and as a young person, I recognize that they have so much they could offer friends and pew-mates in my generation: wisdom, character, a model of self-sacrificing compassion, and a sense of tradition and decorum that seems sorely lacking in so many of today's social interactions. My question then is, how far away should they stray from who they are in order to placate a (currently) non-existant crowd of young people who may never show up? How much should we ask an older generation to abandon the spiritual traditions that have sustained them in order to meet the demands of a younger one that won't show up unless everything is their way?
This is likely not a very popular viewpoint. And if I click "Publish" on the blogger dashboard above this text, I'll pretty much be assuring that I will never get a book deal* to write a treatise on how to save the church. But the church has existed for 2,000 years believing that it is in community that we decide what God is calling us to do and be. That we each, young and old, have gifts to contribute. Is is possible to develop a more balanced view? Is it possible for the church to say, sure, we'll come to your non-churchy, hipster, coffee shop book group of Atheists and hear what you have to say, but we'd love for you to come by on Sunday, too....we'll teach you some of our favorite old hymns."?
*Lily Endowment, if you are reading this, I am still open to your support. Of course, if this offends you, I didn't mean any of it.
The first is an article that my father forwarded to me (though I would have found it eventually if I could get through the stack of Christian Century magazines that I have on my nightstand....biweekly publications are hard to keep up with!). The article, by hipster alterna-minister Adam Copeland, was titled "Reaching Out to Young Adults Will Screw Up Your Church." The basic premise, one so frequently put forth by the young-ish hip crowd of internet saavy ministers probably funded by the Lily Endowment that I'm surprised it's even news anymore, was that average churches are too stiff to actually welcome young adults given the cultural change such youth would inevitably bring. Rather, such churches love the idea of young adults and the vitality they could contribute, a desire which is not accompanied by a willingness to adapt to their wishes. But it should be, says Copeland.
The other article is an op-ed by NYT genius commentator David Brooks. I had read it when it first came out last year, but it was sent to me again recently by a friend and I was glad to re-read it. Its premise is that we, as a culture, have created a generation of young people for whom self-discovery, individual fulfillment and person satisfaction are at the core of the vocational compass that directs their life. These youngsters are, in a sad way, ill-prepared for entering the world of adulthood which will require of them diligence, interdependence and patience. From Brooks,"Today’s grads enter a cultural climate that preaches the self as the center of a life. But, of course, as they age, they’ll discover that the tasks of a life are at the center. Fulfillment is a byproduct of how people engage their tasks, and can’t be pursued directly."
In a completely non-visionary moment that likely betrays my generation of ministers, I wonder what these two viewpoints have to say to each other. What does it mean, for instance, that the church (and with it Copeland), in response to the exodus of young people from the pews in the last few decades, is desperately trying to get them back by reinforcing the same cultural messages that Brooks claims have ill-prepared them for real life and community, namely, by playing only to their personal needs and preferences?
I work in a church of most elderly folks that in some ways fits the description of Copeland's imagined antagonist. It is, of course, a church that longs for young people among its number, and that regularly fantasizes about which changes might bring such a windfall about. (Shall we dispense with singing our favorite old hymns? Put up a screen for the song lyrics? Paint the nursery? Rename the craft group? Offer childcare?). In a way, the lack of younger faces here is sad to me because, as their pastor and as a young person, I recognize that they have so much they could offer friends and pew-mates in my generation: wisdom, character, a model of self-sacrificing compassion, and a sense of tradition and decorum that seems sorely lacking in so many of today's social interactions. My question then is, how far away should they stray from who they are in order to placate a (currently) non-existant crowd of young people who may never show up? How much should we ask an older generation to abandon the spiritual traditions that have sustained them in order to meet the demands of a younger one that won't show up unless everything is their way?
This is likely not a very popular viewpoint. And if I click "Publish" on the blogger dashboard above this text, I'll pretty much be assuring that I will never get a book deal* to write a treatise on how to save the church. But the church has existed for 2,000 years believing that it is in community that we decide what God is calling us to do and be. That we each, young and old, have gifts to contribute. Is is possible to develop a more balanced view? Is it possible for the church to say, sure, we'll come to your non-churchy, hipster, coffee shop book group of Atheists and hear what you have to say, but we'd love for you to come by on Sunday, too....we'll teach you some of our favorite old hymns."?
*Lily Endowment, if you are reading this, I am still open to your support. Of course, if this offends you, I didn't mean any of it.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
An update on some other things that are relatively inconsequential.
Gardening: Yay! Things are growing and thriving. We just spied our first strawberry, first snow pea and first cherry tomato (still green!). Artichoke is still alive, despite the snails' ongoing death campaign. Corn is sprouting as are the radishes. Yum!
Coffee roasting: Not yay. For some reason, though the elements are relatively simple, I'm having trouble getting this one down. My last batch tasted like a cross between burnt dirt and vinegar.
Other homesteading projects: homemade granola (yum!) and knitting (not the relaxing, TV time pastime your grandmother made it seem!) I'm 4" into a fairly ugly prayer shawl and am having a great time.
 |
| Worst strawberry picture ever. |
 |
| See that beauty? |
 |
| Hang on little tomato! |
 |
| Will those little buds on our olive tree become olives? I have no idea! |
Coffee roasting: Not yay. For some reason, though the elements are relatively simple, I'm having trouble getting this one down. My last batch tasted like a cross between burnt dirt and vinegar.
Other homesteading projects: homemade granola (yum!) and knitting (not the relaxing, TV time pastime your grandmother made it seem!) I'm 4" into a fairly ugly prayer shawl and am having a great time.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Loving Your Neighbor
Dear Conservative-Church-Across-The-Road,
Hello neighbor! Just your friendly, mainstream and moderate neighbor church here chiming in to suggest that you please stop putting strange and somewhat inappropriate things on your reader board.
Your latest entry: SLOW DOWN. AND LET JESUS LOVE YOU IN A WHOLE NEW WAY.
was just creepy.
Perhaps you could stick to strictly biblical messages (Although now that I think of it, I am remembering your five month long series on scripture references to things God hates that was also a bit too much.) Perhaps just the time of your worship service would be sufficient.
Signing off in neighborly Christian love,
Us
Hello neighbor! Just your friendly, mainstream and moderate neighbor church here chiming in to suggest that you please stop putting strange and somewhat inappropriate things on your reader board.
Your latest entry: SLOW DOWN. AND LET JESUS LOVE YOU IN A WHOLE NEW WAY.
was just creepy.
Perhaps you could stick to strictly biblical messages (Although now that I think of it, I am remembering your five month long series on scripture references to things God hates that was also a bit too much.) Perhaps just the time of your worship service would be sufficient.
Signing off in neighborly Christian love,
Us
Monday, May 14, 2012
Why didn't I think of that?
We just got back from a jaunt over to the best bakery/cafe in town, a trip which ended in complete disaster when the dog, who we had decided to take with us out of pity when she yelped and whined about being crated, ended up eating the most beautiful and huge-est loaf of sourdough bread which we purchased there.
But I digress. While standing in line to get our pastries and the loaf we did not yet know would be marked for destruction, I noticed a wonderfully strange and somewhat ridiculous business card on the community board there. It read as follows:
Spark of Light: A Loving Way to Become a Happier and Healthier Person
(Name)
Accredited Journey Practitioner
Certified Visionary and
Conscious Leadership Coach
Reading it made me wonder how one goes about getting accredited as a journey practitioner. I thought that's what seminary was for, but I am glad to know I could have bypassed that entire undertaking in favor of a simple accreditation process! A quick search of the 'net (Google: "Journey Practitioner Accreditation") left me giggling in a not-very-compassionate-or-Christ-like way. I found a network of professionals all of whom are available to help:
Release your pain!
Obtain inner peace!
Feel valued and confident!
Have abundance in everything!
Uncover the blocks and silent saboteurs that limit you to be all that you can be!
Well thank God. Here I was thinking that such benefits would be the result of a lifetime of diligent seeking, reflection and practice.
And what about my visionary certification? Having once before been accused on not being a visionary, this is a particularly sensitive topic for me.
All this made me have the simultaneously terrifying and comforting thought: this is why the church is dying. Because we are competing with folks who can bring you inner peace, pain release, confidence and limitation de-blockage in 6 easy sessions, while we're sitting around talking about whether a Palestinian carpenter and his unemployed fisherman pals 2,000 years ago really did or did not fundamentally change the world on top of which we in the liberal wing of the church must admit that which we believe to be true which is that we don't have all the answers to even the easy stuff.
There are days when I feel that working in the church is like playing in the band on the Titanic as it goes down. And maybe it is. And I recognize that to some people it's not much better than selling inner peace on a sliding scale. But there are more days when I'm glad I've got more than a visionary certification, but instead a tiny bit of faith left in a real visionary.
Seriously, though, God, if you exist and you're reading this, I could have done without the dog eating the bread.
Postscript: If you too are feeling not very compassionate, and instead are feeling cynical and snarky, take a look at this somewhat terrifying person who accredits journey-practitioners: http://www.thejourney.com/
But I digress. While standing in line to get our pastries and the loaf we did not yet know would be marked for destruction, I noticed a wonderfully strange and somewhat ridiculous business card on the community board there. It read as follows:
Spark of Light: A Loving Way to Become a Happier and Healthier Person
(Name)
Accredited Journey Practitioner
Certified Visionary and
Conscious Leadership Coach
Reading it made me wonder how one goes about getting accredited as a journey practitioner. I thought that's what seminary was for, but I am glad to know I could have bypassed that entire undertaking in favor of a simple accreditation process! A quick search of the 'net (Google: "Journey Practitioner Accreditation") left me giggling in a not-very-compassionate-or-Christ-like way. I found a network of professionals all of whom are available to help:
Release your pain!
Obtain inner peace!
Feel valued and confident!
Have abundance in everything!
Uncover the blocks and silent saboteurs that limit you to be all that you can be!
Well thank God. Here I was thinking that such benefits would be the result of a lifetime of diligent seeking, reflection and practice.
And what about my visionary certification? Having once before been accused on not being a visionary, this is a particularly sensitive topic for me.
All this made me have the simultaneously terrifying and comforting thought: this is why the church is dying. Because we are competing with folks who can bring you inner peace, pain release, confidence and limitation de-blockage in 6 easy sessions, while we're sitting around talking about whether a Palestinian carpenter and his unemployed fisherman pals 2,000 years ago really did or did not fundamentally change the world on top of which we in the liberal wing of the church must admit that which we believe to be true which is that we don't have all the answers to even the easy stuff.
There are days when I feel that working in the church is like playing in the band on the Titanic as it goes down. And maybe it is. And I recognize that to some people it's not much better than selling inner peace on a sliding scale. But there are more days when I'm glad I've got more than a visionary certification, but instead a tiny bit of faith left in a real visionary.
Seriously, though, God, if you exist and you're reading this, I could have done without the dog eating the bread.
Postscript: If you too are feeling not very compassionate, and instead are feeling cynical and snarky, take a look at this somewhat terrifying person who accredits journey-practitioners: http://www.thejourney.com/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)