Difference Between Hipster and Indie

Hipster vs. Indie

Both hipster and indie are labels for different subcultures and the people who belong to that subculture. Each subculture has its own characteristics and freedom of expression through taste, preferences, attitude, and lifestyle.

Both a hipster and an indie promote non-conformity, independence from the mainstream culture and thinking, creativity, and independence. The hipster subculture began in the 1940s born out of the Jazz Age. Hipsters are usually young adult men and women in their 20’s to their 30’s. They often wear clothes from vintage or thrift shops and have an androgynous hairstyle.

As people, hipsters are radically open-minded and considered pioneers or leaders in terms of cultural trends and ideas. Some even consider them as early adopters of an emerging culture. In line with this, they are considered to have an avant-garde attitude that often leads the mainstream into accepting new ideas and trends as well as lifestyles. Once a concept is adapted by the mainstream society, hipsters tend to abandon it and move on to something new and improved.

Hipsters are often thought of as uneducated or rich people, but they are also well educated. Some hipsters are graduates with liberal arts degrees or scientific degrees like math and science. Most of them work in an artistic environment in industries like music, fashion, film, and the like. In term of relationships, a hipster tends to mingle with their own. This is a result of their tendency to be conformists to their own culture and reject people from the mainstream. They see mainstream people of the opposite sex as somewhat lacking in terms of self. Because of this, hipsters are often thought of as people with an attitude of irony and elitism.

On the other hand, the indie subculture is also a group of people who aren’t conformists to the mainstream culture. The term “indie” has been the de facto label for idealistic artists who believe in making and polishing crafts for enjoyment and talent rather than what is trending or popular by mainstream standards. Most of the indie culture refers to the fashion and independent entertainment scene.

The indie culture grew on the independent side of the entertainment business; this includes independent bands or music, films, or even printing. Most of the material in independent entertainment is not marketable by mainstream standards, but it has a following or “base.” These supporters began to sport the fashion associated with the lifestyle. Indie fashion is characterized by a free-spirited style of clothing. Hairstyles are often long and messy.

Summary:

1. Both hipster and indie are two subcultures that are non-conformist and independent of the popular and mainstream culture. Both subcultures have their own ideas about attitudes and lifestyles.
2. The terms for the two subcultures have different origins. “Hipster” is a combination of two words – “hip” and “ster.” The “hip” came from the description of people who love the Jazz Age, and “ster” is a common English suffix. On the other hand, “indie” is the shortened version of “independent.” Both words are considered nouns and adjectives.
3. Hipsters are considered to be avant-garde or pioneers in starting new trends and ideas in society. Once the concept is adapted by the mainstream, they often abandon it and set on a new trend. Meanwhile, indies are not necessary trendsetters, but they have their own brand of ideas and trends.
4. Hipsters tend to be conformist in their culture, usually seeing only people in their own set. The same can be true for indies, but there are indies who can socialize with people with other subcultures or the mainstream.
5. A hipster is basically a contemporary subculture, while an indie is a subculture born from the independent side of the entertainment business.
6. Hipsters have the ideal of being different form the mainstream by discovering and creating new things, while indies are characterized by a sense of idealism and an anti-corporate attitude.

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