Thursday, 3 March 2011

Narrative

What is your narrative? How are any of our narratives in any way unique or different from someone else's?
Certainly, we'd all like to view ourselves as unique and different. In American society, that's how we're brought up. Your parents tell you that you can do anything you'd like to do, and American rhetoric emphasizes that you can do anything you set your mind to. But do we really have a choice? Society programs you to look for things. It's nice to live the American dream. It's also nice to break out of the box.
This begs the question though, do you really want to break out of the box? From youth, we've been groomed to think of settling down at some point, stabilizing. Is it really worth the coolness factor to be a hipster forever? Don't you want to calm down at some point? Everyone in college is thinking about resisting the "system" and fighting "the man" but really, is that what you really want to do? Why do some of us fight against the system? Simply to be cool in someone else's eyes? What's the point of that? Do what you want, and don't question it. Hipster culture will have you revolting against the norm. But what's so bad about the norm? If that's what you desire, then there is absolutely nothing wrong with the normal, the mundane. If you truly believe there is a better way to live out there, then all the power to you, but for all the posers out there, seriously, find something better to do with your life than pursue some idea or goal that you're not even a true believer in.

- Kenneth

1 comment:

  1. Hi, total stranger here. I take the term "hipster" very tongue in cheek, as I didn't realize until after I graduated college and looked back on it that, "huh, yeah, my friends and I fit that description." For me, it's not about trying to be different in comparison to everyone else, it's just that when I look at the prospect of eternally working in a drab office building or spending my evenings inside watching network tv (well ok, nbc thursday nights are pretty awesome), it's depressing, although I hold nothing against anyone who finds happiness in that.

    My mindset hasn't changed much in the handful of years since college ended, and I just enjoy eternally discovering new things, observing social trends and the like. I also like being surrounded by unpredictable people. Just one person's POV, but I'm hoping it provides a bit of insight.

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