De queeste van de hipster

Abstract

This thesis analyses the documentary series American Hipster Presents to see in what way hipsters are represented as searing for sincerity. AHP represents the search to sincerity of the hipster through nostalgia. Nostalgia has different expressions in the series. There is nostalgia as longing for the past in general. These hipsters long for a sensibility from the past. They long for Benjamins aura in vintage clothing. The series simulates the aura. Secondly the series shows restorative nostalgia to represent the hipster´s fascination for sustainable produced meat by connoting tradition and craftsmanship. Sventlana Boym states that restorative nostalgia creates an anti-modern conspiracy theory, which in the series is a theory against the capitalist mindset of food production. Thirdly, reflective nostalgia is shown when portraying hipsters living in Detroit. AHP creates the image of Detroit as a non-place, but contra! dicts thi s by focussing on the personal narratives of the hipsters.