The Dead End of Western Civilization?
posted by Ryan McManus 
on August 01, 2008 at 01:47 PM
filed under: Fashion, Apparel and Footwear, Youth Marketing, and Internet Culture
Ryan McManus
Art Director : New York
topics: Social Networking and Community, Apparel and Footwear, New York, Internet Culture, and Fashion
filed under: Fashion, Apparel and Footwear, Youth Marketing, and Internet Culture
Man, talk about Kettle:Blackism.
A bit of a dustup recently about this article on Hipsterism by the normally moderate and reserved Adbusters:
An artificial appropriation of different styles from different eras, the hipster represents the end of Western civilization – a culture lost in the superficiality of its past and unable to create any new meaning. Not only is it unsustainable, it is suicidal. While previous youth movements have challenged the dysfunction and decadence of their elders, today we have the “hipster” – a youth subculture that mirrors the doomed shallowness of mainstream society.
Wow, so hipsters are going to end culture, hmm? We’re all going to hell in a track bike basket?
It’s called Fin De Siécle, boys. Read a friggin’ book.
4 comments
I do think it'd be a worthwhile exercise to actually chronicle the accomplishments and positives about this generation though: their near obliteration of racism and nationalism. Their political engagement. Their lack of shame. Their desire to advance society, technology, modernity. I'll bet it would be an interesting list.
Well, I'm off to Home Depot to pick up some fertilizer. Gotta keep that lawn green. Maybe Bed Bath, and Beyond - don't know if I'll have enough time.