In Defense (and Condemnation) of the Hipster
Posted on: December 28, 201124 comments so far (is that a lot?)
I’ve been looking for a way to address the hipster topic for a while now, and with the exchange between former Surfer Magazine editor Chris Mauro and Dane Reynolds, there’s finally a topic that opens the door. Here’s a summary of Dane and Mauro’s exchange…
Last October, Mauro wrote “Dane Reynolds’ Virulent Strain” an article describing “Daneophilia,” a fictional epidemic infecting impressionable young surfers. According to Mauro, Dane-o-Feel-ya is characterized by “languorous behavior… more commonly known as the fuck-its.” Dane, after announcing his departure from the ASP World Tour, fired back with a lower case, sixteen-hundred word “Declaration of Independence,” defending his decision and lashing out at Mauro referring to him as an out of touch dinosaur.
We’ve all seen Dane excel with abandon and crash in self-consciousness. He’s been pegged as the leader of surfing’s much loathed hipster movement, implicating him in many crimes against upper-middle class humanity. Mauro is not alone in his criticisms, Reynolds’ ambivalence towards fame and competition despite his hefty salary paints him as, well an overly-sensitive ingrate. And on the surface it’s an easy case to make, Dane appears to have it all: money, freedom, power. So why the melancholy interviews and awkward speeches? The majority of Mauro’s digs are indicative of how many feel about us 20 somethings: spoiled, out-of-touch, psudo-erudite tragedies infected with Dane-o-feel-ya. They caution that it will all end poorly. That this new hipster disease is a sinking ship. “Better to ditch the naive idealism, join the rest of society and pull our weight. Drop the act, and stop leaching the system dry with our arrogant navel pondering. This gripe is nothing new, just ask those who lived amongst the Luddites, Dadas, Beats, Hippies, and Punks. Society has always been quick to label its dissidents with labels and slurs. But the truth is, from Tom Sawyer to Holden Caulifield, we’ve all been, if even for a brief moment, disillusioned youths coping with the ugly side of the system that ironically supports our misgivings. But if Dane is merely another cog in history’s wheel of hapless over-privlidged youths, why do we care so much about him? Surely not because of his neck beard or hand scribbled t-shirts. The fact is that behind all of this apparent BS, Dane rips. He draws lines with a surfboard that reek of a highly refined craft. Even Mauro admits that Dane’s surfing is a thing of beauty. And with each session Dane is creating visceral art.
The very word artist is rooted to the Middle Age term of artisan: a person specializing in making something that directly contributes to their collective group. Ruling class aside, wealth and status have long been earned through a combination of creativity and practicality. But as technology has increasingly fragmented our once cooperative systems, the ancient human tendency to tinker for the common good has become adulterated. What used to be a simple equation is now a complex algorithm of self-promotion, marketing, overseas production and the nurturing of a “fan culture” that sustains it all.
Perhaps there is some truth to the common dig that likens stars such as actors, musicians or athletes to spoiled perma-children. For the nature of our star/fan culture is not to teach but instill idolatry that serves the sale of associated products. And this marketing of products acts as a wedge creating a perceived separation between fans and stars when in reality, the star is just another person with a job. A job which just so happens to be an incestuous relationship between business and pleasure. According to wikipedia “hipster” culture is defined namely by a preoccupation with the authentic, which is perhaps a reaction to this perverted nature of modern day consumerism. Maybe this is why Dane is leaving the tour, guys are buying $250 Redwing Boots and girls are dressing up like Native Americans, people everywhere are searching for something that finally feels real.Â
In his post, Mauro compares Dane with the super competitive pro surfer Adriano de Souza, postulating that Dane isn’t participating with the same level of sincerity as Adriano. While Adriano’s overt passion might win heats, overlooking the value of Dane’s performances of reckless abandon is to miss something important. Aside from our generation’s quest for authenticity, we are attempting to detach from the fear surrounding the many problems that need fixing. Issues like environmental harm, divorce, cancer, stress, and loneliness will only be quelled by the service of adventurous minds contributing a mix of cutting-edge innovation with creative detachment, not unlike Dane’s surfing. A lofty comparison I know, and it’s an equally strong point that surfing alone isn’t valuable enough of a contribution to warrant the wealth and status given to the top pro surfers. For certainly the fabric of our culture wouldn’t unravel if competitive or free surfing disappeared tomorrow. But the pure act of surfing is a great place to start, it’s an activity that takes a tremendous amount of workmanship and dedication to perfect, and those traits are building blocks towards living an inspirational life of any sort.
And herein lies Dane’s new challenge, and the challenge of anyone who endeavors to make their way in the complicated socioeconomic landscape of today- it is essential that we see past the trends or anti-trends, the stoke lies in learning from people who live their lives connected to a practical reality beyond the chatter of people bashing “hipsters” on their blogs or buying a lifestyle just to look cool. It is our job to somehow seek and relate substantial truths back to society rather just than perpetuate the self indulgence we’ve grown up with. When this is achieved Chris Mauro won’t have to write articles questioning our morals, the answer will be obvious and inspiring.
Editor’s Note 12/29/11
Here’s a follow up regarding Chris Mauro’s article. Firstly, I don’t back Dane in the belief that Mauro is a “dinosaur,” although I am sympathetic to Dane’s sentiments. The fact is that without Mauro’s opinion, Dane wouldn’t have written such a personal retort and we wouldn’t have had the opportunity to engage in this discourse. Banter from critics whether it be Mauro, Baja locals or anyone else is just a natural human tendency to humble the alphas in their group. I read once that chimps who display the most naturally gifted abilities get attacked by the rest of the pack, ensuring the eventual leader is either a chimp who second in skill or a severely humbled alpha who will be in service of the group. The ivory tower system of stardom separates us from those natural interactions so they instead play themselves out on blogs and internet forums. Reading Mauro’s post in this light, seems to reveal it as just a call for engagement with a star who ambivalence towards towards his job often leaves his fans in the dark (and it’s obvious Mauro, like myself, is one of Dane’s biggest fans). However, the nature of stardom is one of a peculiar isolation that’s seldom explained and rarely understood. And this isolation is magnified when the star is a deep, thoughtful person like Dane. But that probably requires another post altogether, maybe it should be called why “Why Dane and Mauro Should Be Friends.” Also I wanted to mention Zach Weisburg’s post on this topic which came out promptly after Dane’s declaration, it’s a good level-headed take on the exchange and influenced this post.
Having shot this over 5 years ago during one of Dane’s breakout WCT performances on Australia’s Gold Coast, I’ve haven’t known what to do with the footage. Originally it was going to be used for a 16mm film called “Corduroy,” he title of which minus the “C” was obviously used for this blog years later.. Well, we thought it fitting to finally release it after Dane’s announcement that he’s leaving the tour. Thanks for the stoke man and good luck movin’ on, we’ll enjoy watching it all unfold.
- Interviews (69)
- Autarkic (14)
- DIY Tip of the Week (7)
- Etsy Gold (14)
- Filmmaker Feature (53)
- How Tues-Day (4)
- Rant (21)
- Stuff We Like (221)
- Bulletin Board (2)
December 28th, 2011
beautifully put.
elegant and well written, sensical, honest…perfect.
thank you guys for wearing your heart on your sleeve and speaking up.
December 28th, 2011
Dane is the Gerlach of our generation except he quit way lower in the ranks. People rarely look back at something they quit as a high point in their lives.
December 28th, 2011
Yeah nicely written, it never ceases to amuse how every new gen thinks only they can see the corruption in the system an that they must rebel. While at the very same time us oldies always forget that we were exactly the same.
Good piece, really enjoyed the read. Only thing I would add is this this, matters not the gen or the age or the fashion, no matter how much you tell someone that navel gazing is nothing more than search for lint. They will still do it. It’s a waste of life, but because it’s part of the journey. We all gotta find our own belly button lint. Then move on when and only when we are ready.
December 29th, 2011
The tour and the fans he made from the tour is what created Dane and separates him from, perhaps, Clay Marzo. I liked to see what he could do in a heat, not what he does on a blown out day in Ventura. Oh well, good for him and bad for the tour. He blew up in 2 years on the tour and could easily disappear like Wardo, Bobby, Bruce. That’s OK. There’s some 17 year old ripper that will make Dane’s accomplishments irrelevant because he couldn’t really hack the tour. Wait, that 17 year older is here, Gabriel Medina……
December 29th, 2011
“Let’s all grow our own garden”. That means mind your own life, Mauro. I don’t understand why some people like him keep on bragging about over people life choices. Is that such an important issue that you won’t sleep at night? Won’t you see Dane ripping anymore? I guess it is some kind of jealousy or something, but anyway… Let the dude find his own way, period. Very nice article, by the way, thanks.
December 29th, 2011
Why don’t these guys get a life? Who cares if Dane wants to quit the tour and just travel and shoot photos? It’s odd that Mauro (whose work I enjoy) would have the cajones to criticize someone like Dane when Mauro is, himself, a remora traveling along with the Great White Shark that is the surfing culture/industry. If there were no Danes, what would Mauro write about? I love competitive surfing and follow the tour closely but if one of its brightest young talents wants to bolt and live a travelogue lifestyle and his sponsors are cool with that what concern is it to surfing as a whole?
Plus, I’ve never understood why surfers, who are supposedly this open minded, free flowing group of passionate athletes/artists, never fail to talk smack about whoever isn’t doing things their way (shorboarders hate longboarders/longboarders hate SUPS/SUPS (soon to) hate Wavejets). Hate hipsters? Stay away from cool clubs. Think skinny jeans are lame? Keep rockin’ your 501s and STFU about what other people decide to wear. Live and let live and go surfing!
December 29th, 2011
I spent my college years learning about capitalism and world trade and how the big guys game the system for their advantage at the great suffering of the little guys. After retreating to San Diego to surf after that eye opening experience I suddenly realized surfing OB every day wasn’t as fulfilling as I hoped so i got a “real” job that happened to involve action sports. So now, having just spent three years at a major sports marketing company that represents athletes in all sports including top ten wct surfers and one of Americas current most famous athletes i have quite a perspective on the industry. Ive watched well respected and admired athletes lie with a smile into a camera hawking a product that didn’t even work while filming so they could make 600k in three hours. Im not sure where I’m going with this exactly but I really relate to Dane. He is trying to tell it like it is and that is an incredible burden. he is trying to make something worth making. All the curtains have been pulled back for my generation now and gazing at a navel trying to make sense of the absolute mess that is reality is a lot more respectable in my opinion than bombing innocent women and children or lying to young kids to make hundreds of thousands of dollars in a couple hours. If thats what society demands than screw it. I just got laid off last month because after spending years making art for a massive marketing company i refused to be a corporate automaton, you could say i refused to double claim floaters, and now i have time to surf again and i am much much happier. my soul is slowly healing from that terrible short sighted dollar obsessed place. life is too short to sell your soul. viva la dane he is an artist. marine layer productions is my guernica. we should all aspire to be artists with our lives, many of us do when we’re younger because we aren’t afraid. for most eventually the fear creeps in. dane has courage mauro can’t even fathom, he is a coward and can go to hell.
December 29th, 2011
http://corischumacher.com/2011/12/27/newests-sponsored-imagined-bliss/
On the same page… great this conversation is happening. Thank you Korduroy.tv
December 29th, 2011
Right on Cyrus! Good read…Mauro is just a bit “too” concerned and sounds kinda jealous if you ask me…surfing really needs a total surfer like Dane…super “In-touch” with what’s been going on in the past, present, and yet is fully immersed in the future and progression of high-performance surfing on any board! I commend our buy…I have always preached to my grom friends to “ride everything well” … Dane is THE crossover supestar surfing has been waiting for-for a long time now…good on ya Dane! Git some. -davO
December 29th, 2011
I got this book “what was the hipster” by n+1 foundation to try an figure out my friends and I. One quote from the back said “(the hipster) who in fact aligns himself both w rebel subculture and w the dominate class, opens up a poisonous conduit between the two” being “the hipster” just feels like the necessary role for the smart and talented upper middle 20 something’s transition between youth and adulthood. The hipster seemed more logical when the economy was better now it can be seen as, yeah, being spoiled and given everything to young. We’re all finding our way and hipsters are still, I feel, the brightest or at least the most well rounded of my peer group doing the best they can with what they feel is right for society and themselves.
December 29th, 2011
Thanks for bringing it up
December 29th, 2011
Well put Sir.
December 29th, 2011
Down with the cool train, hipsters and the new school old schoolers… Luv Dane’s surfing in or out of the jersey and like him, we should all be humbled about what surfing has given US… An amazing world that so few get to live.
Good discussion Sutton!
December 29th, 2011
This is old news, mayber older than Henry Miller’s Library! Less time discussing fashion lads and more time surfing!
December 30th, 2011
The lackluster performance of DR on the tour, the passing of AI in November 2010, Macahado not getting the wildcard one year, Gerlach leaving the tour, Bruce Irons leaving the tour (http://www.surfline.com/wave-of-the-winter-2011/reef-macintosh_63872), great talents neglected in more than a few different ways makes me ask WTF is going on with “the tour”…Then again the tour is just another aspect about surfing,for many of us minimal, the tour may refuse to acknowledge that about itself…it is really just one big billboard, we pay some attention, but we surf for other reasons and the tour defines so few of us, so it is not the only definition of what is great surfing
The sad thing to me about the tour is that very few aspiring tour bound young surfers get a chance to really appreciate why they surf and the history and lore of surfing from a perspective other than the winner’s podium. Without alternative explorations and understanding about what surfing is these kids could come to only know surfing as defined by the tour. That would be so sad, imagine not ever learning about the wave sharing as remembered by Rabbit Kekai at Waikiki, or Tulie Clark at the PV Cove.
For me this recent Dane Reynolds leaves the tour incident is not a hipster v. pro surfer mentality, or a talented soul surfer abusing the money to be made through the competitive world of commercial surfing. I think this is about choices, and I do not think the hipster surfers are any different than Rasta, Jim Banks, Michael Peterson,Doc Ball, even Lopez. You yourself may know the tightrope walk between the devil and the deep blue sea. It is about finding your way, and making it pay spiritually as well as financially if you can… nothing wrong with that if you do not sell your soul to the devil. It helps to know him when you see him for the first time.
December 31st, 2011
[...] For more on Dane, check out Cy’s post at korduroy.tv/2011/in-defense-and-condemnation-of-the-hipster [...]
January 1st, 2012
Its very easy ignoring all this in exchange for having access to korduroy et al.Out here in fly-over -land thats all you need.Keep up the good work….b.t.w. i’m stoked about kickstarter,gonna do what i can to help.
January 1st, 2012
Could there be a subtext to this criticism from the surfing establishment?
I’m not very familiar with hipster culture- I live 450 klms from a major city but we do see many travelling surfers around home.Perhaps travelling in a shitty van isn’t the hipster way so they don’t appear camped overnight at the local car park?
Anyway with their drive to consume an authentic form of fashion is the hipster movement within surfing trying to distance itself from the BIG brands?
Is this a conscious rejection of the products that the mainstream still want to buy even if it looks to be in decreasing amounts?
So Mr Mauro’s comment can be read as a sort of sabotage – undermining the credibility of the hipster surfers as they reject the product that supports the surfing mainstream and through advertising in the mags the leeches of the surfing media.
Too many people start rejecting the brands and before long the surfing brands are cutting sponsorships and
pulling ads and the internet will be the only forum left for surfers to express themselves.
That may come to pass soon enough anyway but this denigration by the surfing industry of “the other” due to a desire to surf but outside competitions looks calculated and disingenuous.
January 1st, 2012
Great points David.. have you seen under the sun? U might enjoy it since it wrestles with some similar themes. Cy
January 2nd, 2012
i’m a 41 year old surfer – too old to remember before commercialism and crowds “ruined” surfing, but old enough to remember seeing pro surfing contests on broadcast TV (to my young eyes, Dane Kealoha was the King of all Kings). despite my years, i do have to agree with Dane’s “dinosaur” label. its unfortunate if all the name-calling distracts from the key argument, but i and many others (especially but not exclusively young surfers) do see the “its all about competition” mentality and Surfer Magazine itself as outdated…kinda like Zoos, or newspapers themselves, products of an earlier era that might continue for a while but which will no longer capture the popular imagination. i don’t find mauro’s arguments convincing at all, especially the notion that surfing needs contests in order for young surfers to push themselves to their highest abilities performance-wise. it ain’t about the trophy or the money.
websites like this are part of the new era…just like musicians no longer really need record labels to be heard, the new generation of surfers aren’t going to need contests, print magazines full of ads, nor the approval of editors to make their mark on the world.
January 2nd, 2012
i meant too young to remember before…
January 2nd, 2012
I’m old enough to remember the era when there was not much organised competition.
The major attitude displayed by surfers at that time was one of enjoying the ocean, some were still in life saving and most where just trying to get to grips with all the changes occurring in surfboard design and peripheral equipment.
Wetsuits used to hurt like hell but they were better than freezing.
Somewhere in all this the role of Peter Townsend and the Bronzed Aussies needs to be explored.Maybe Under the Sun does that – I haven’t seen the movie.
From their embrace of promotion and the use of competitons to delineate the stars of surfing they worked themselves into what could be seen as a deadend.
The Stubbies comps with the man on man format locked in a model that might be nearing it’s use by date. The format has become stale and despite the best efforts of the commentators it isn’t always an authentic examination of surfing prowess in excellent conditions – the venues are the variable we are allowed to choose but that means the conditions can’t be.
Is the general hipster position that competitions are
foreign to their ideas of what is substantial?
If so I look forward to their expanded influence within the surfing population.
Ideally they will make surfing unfashionable and that would be an achievement to savour.
January 3rd, 2012
Wow. This was very well written. Superior writing in the surfing world, keep it up korduroy.
January 3rd, 2012
CYRUS, your writing is very very interesting and I like the perspective,maybe some time surfing will get back to what is central to the art and leave this competive entanglement where it belongs,ie in thelast century. The mega surfing companies should do something that actually benifits the art,MORE WAVES…