Discussion of Adbuster's Article, "Hipster: The Dead End of Western Civilization

[Benjamin Morris]

http://www.adbusters.org/magazine/79/hipster.html

This article is about a year old. I have read and re-read it for the past year and have been chewing on it for a while. It is a strong critique of Hipsterdom that should not be ignored, as many "emerging churches" can rightly be called hipster churches.

I was hoping that you all might read the article and then discuss it and the implications it raises in the context of the church.





-Ben

[Rustin Comer]

this last paragraph is haunting,

"We are a lost generation, desperately clinging to anything that feels real, but too afraid to become it ourselves. We are a defeated generation, resigned to the hypocrisy of those before us, who once sang songs of rebellion and now sell them back to us. We are the last generation, a culmination of all previous things, destroyed by the vapidity that surrounds us. The hipster represents the end of Western civilization – a culture so detached and disconnected that it has stopped giving birth to anything new."

as for hipsters i think it may be a little harsh. In my opinion all cultural expressions are in response to previous expressions, so i think the real question to be asked by those trying to reach a hipster crowd is 'what is this a response to". i find that our cultural (hipster) is being more creative and bringing real art back. art that says something as opposed to art that is simply made to hang on the wall. it may be vastly negative but i think thats because there is a lot to say that is negative about our over consumed nation (or western civilization)

as far as the church i think this is true as well. so then how do we do ministry among this group? first i think it is about voice. allowing the voice of this expression to cry out from its dark, smoke-filled, american apparel corners (which is at least asking importing questions about responsible consuming, even if it is just a t-shirt). this voice is going to be expressed differently then some of us and our churches are going to be comfortable allowing. so we need to prepare ourselves for that.

i think second, is giving these people (which i am probably one of) space to navigate faith, and live communally. one of the ways we can speak into this culture i think is to bring hope and grace, to speak hope and grace, to offer hope and grace. i think at its depth that is what this community is seeking. after we have deconstructed everything whats left, what is worth being here for.

just some thoughts.

[Samuel Wood]

for any "lost generation", the place to "get found" is in the faith. The implication for the church is that since this generation has pretty much rejected anything that the two immediate prior generations embraced.... there is truly no better time, and even no choice but to radically change structures, polities, means and modes of evangelism and service. This might truly be the best opportunity since before the industrial revolution to recapture the vitality of the "primitive church".... home based, Christ centered and evangelism and mission driven.

If you're "no where" then any direction has to be OK.... God loves "exnihilo" creation. My lord, what an opportunity!!!!!