The sum of small things
At last! A social scientist – “the James Irvine Chair in Urban and Regional Planning and professor of public policy at the University of Southern California” – has written the book on hipsters.
Or, more broadly, on “the aspirational class.” The book says that hipsters are just the poorest members of that class. Ha, ha!
Now I can rest. My prejudices have been confirmed. (By science!)
The driving idea behind The Sum of Small Things isn’t new. The book uses “Bourdieu’s basic thesis” – that “everyday cultural forms create and maintain social status” (p. 55) – to explain how elitists separate themselves from other people today, as opposed to how they did so fifty or one hundred years ago. So, instead of focusing on how rich people lived in mansions and carried fancy walking sticks – costly, conspicuous behaviors that helped them to maintain their social status – the book talks about foodies ordering brunch (which is cheaper but still conspicuous to do, or at least conspicuous enough).
Bourdieu’s thesis is true but awful to read about. Bourdieu was a hideous writer. I know because I own his famous book. And everything written after him follows his lead.
This new book is only slightly more readable. Here’s another passage (again, p. 55):
Here is all you need to know. Hipsters are bad. They promote a culture of snobbery and exclusion, even as they believe themselves to be doing good. Don’t be a hipster. The best thing you can do, when eating out, is to eat fast food.
Or, more broadly, on “the aspirational class.” The book says that hipsters are just the poorest members of that class. Ha, ha!
Now I can rest. My prejudices have been confirmed. (By science!)
The driving idea behind The Sum of Small Things isn’t new. The book uses “Bourdieu’s basic thesis” – that “everyday cultural forms create and maintain social status” (p. 55) – to explain how elitists separate themselves from other people today, as opposed to how they did so fifty or one hundred years ago. So, instead of focusing on how rich people lived in mansions and carried fancy walking sticks – costly, conspicuous behaviors that helped them to maintain their social status – the book talks about foodies ordering brunch (which is cheaper but still conspicuous to do, or at least conspicuous enough).
Bourdieu’s thesis is true but awful to read about. Bourdieu was a hideous writer. I know because I own his famous book. And everything written after him follows his lead.
This new book is only slightly more readable. Here’s another passage (again, p. 55):
The accrual of different types of knowledge and the sharing of cultural capital mean that the new elites use this information to buy particular things or act in particular ways and to further solidify their position. Or, as Khan writes, “Culture is a resource used by elites to recognize one another and distribute opportunities on the basis of the display of appropriate attributes.” Nail polish color is more subtle and less expensive than yachts and handbags, but the choice to wear one color over another involves acquiring knowledge as to what is aesthetically appropriate and appreciated by one’s peer group.Not lovely.
Here is all you need to know. Hipsters are bad. They promote a culture of snobbery and exclusion, even as they believe themselves to be doing good. Don’t be a hipster. The best thing you can do, when eating out, is to eat fast food.