Hipsters in Space
Okay. Hipster. It’s a pop-English word for what some morons here in Indonesia (still) refer as anak gaul. As Jakartan ourselves, looks like we’re condemned to spend the rest of our twentysomething lives classified as this particular kind of species — a discovery that proves that the process of human evolution itself does glitch. Dare to cross the border between Jakarta and Indonesia as a Jakartan hipster? Prepare to be transformed as an alien mutant, ready to swallow the innocent villagers in one doublewhopper-sized gulp, munch whatever God-given superiority thrusted upon them bit by bit, then zap back into their television sets, as bintang sinetrons.
Worry not. To most, young hipsters are much like small frail bugs terminable by bug repellent sprays. Kick them to the curb by saying how denationalized, demoralized and demarginalized they are and they’ll toss their asymmetrical bangs aside and leave you in peace. Some people are just plain lucky though. Just by looking fugly, they already won any match with hipsters.
However, we should all cast our judgments aside because the animation movie featured below would brilliantly visualize how advanced the civilization of hipsters is, at least compared to how the jahiliyah-minded society it is trapped in. It’s also one of the best vids I’ve found over the internet and it comes in close second to one with the sneezing panda. Watching it, it’s as if my life flashes before my eyes, as if the black-and-white, smoke everywhere, lomo-captured, satirical truth have thrown me back into the past, err, or the future. Whatever.
The story features stereotypical characters perhaps everyone’s already familiar with, and most likely it’s stereotypical because that’s how hipsters evidently stereotype themselves: Dr Blog, Major It Girl, East Village Boy, Captain Art School and a Hipster Bot who ditches Earth because it has become overly populated with none other than, the mainstreamers. Can you guess what’s the Indonesian version of these mainstreamers? I’ll leave you to answer that for yourself. Chances are if you’re reading this, you’re not one. An urban idealist in the neocon, ruralist part of the country is never mainstream. Unless you have something in return, something dramatic yet self-defeating, perhaps imitating scenes from the sinetrons would do the trick.
Anyways. Best part of this vid is, knowing that it’s produced by Current, a company owned by –shazam!– bunch of geeky anti-hipsters hipsters themselves, obvious enough that hipsters do find it utterly amusing to laugh at their own superficial selves — almost as if, somehow, these ultracool young ones of ours are much more intelligent and highly evolved than how they appear to be.
If you will excuse me, I’m going to be looking so dazed and confused while looking at my awesome 8 bit watch now. Made in Taiwan, surely. But if you really, really wish to sell your soul to Satan, I’d be happy to show you hidden shopping spots for smuggled, Western branded premium jeans. Pax-Americana is rather out of style now though. How about kiffeyeh shawls?
Enjoy the vid.
Image on top is the cover of The Weekender August 2007 edition.
Hello. You are now reading an article written by Marisa Duma, published on 29Oct08 along with other notes on Commentaries, Design and Illustration, Lifestyle, Music, People, Youth.
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klo cunpe diskotik, tege, masteng gojek, dan oom-oom menggelikan itu semuah hipster juga bkn? *polos*
slankers juga bisa dibilang hipster. mrk sangkin fanatiknya nongkrong terus di potlot dan tiap hari make kaos2 sablonan slankers, tp beda br-nya aje… eh nasib! duh cuh cuh…
slankers ga make setau gua, paling banter nyimeng
yg di konser ngelem banyakan, biasanya anak jalanan, anak stasiun
people za mentioned r bunch of dirtbags taking the so called scene for granted, then clubs taking them for granted in return. i’d say that’s a fair deal in the end
gorgon: oh no! we are under electronic music attack!
lebay hahahaha
hipsterism = $$$$
The globalized world will find a way to co-opt and sell anything. If “poverty” were a hispter movement they would sell that. If “genocide” was some sort of trendy world view you can bet that would be for sale as well.
Want to buy a t-shirt? Sneakers? Sunglasses? A political point of view? Your soul? Is there anything that is not for sale? No. Naomi Klein (one of my heros) has written tons of stuff about this.
The image is better than reality…
http://tbelfield.wordpress.com/2008/08/20/jakarta-images-better-than-reality/
And check out the posts on “Fear of the Street”.
This does not mean that culture cannot be authentic and progressive or even fun. It is only helpful to map out where the traps are as to avoid them as best you can.
8 bit watch, as in those chunky plastic watches?
You have just got to be kidding me.
A political point of view?
If ultratupai asked us that a year ago, I’d probably say no way! Never the politics!
That is a good question, ultratupai.
Because I just found out days ago that -to my surprise!- young Jakartan politicians are entering the national scene,
To name one, Natasya Alexandra Litaay? You by any chance know her, Cha?
sometimes teenagers have got to survive going through their teen period. mingling becomes a part of their primary needs beside eating, drinking, sleeping, taking shower, etc.
but be realistic and tell that person in the mirror to do something more important and valuable.
@Icha
missed you too, I’m about to ask you the same question. I haven’t seen your comments on guebukanmonyet, goresan ngawur, michael jubel, rima fauzi. where else to find you but here
been busy lately or just like me becoming lazy with blogging things?
btw, great fresh blog, more sophisticated
Yeah. Haven’t blogwalked as often as I used to, or perhaps I’m having some sort of a blogger’s block. Not lazy, just still floating in my own bubble here.
Miss you all so very much.