Reevaluating the Concept of Hip

I proposed within our initial assignment to address "what is hip" that there are categories of hip people. A hip individual does not necessarily fit one mold only, in fact this person may navigate between many different variations of what it means to be hip. However, I still believe that there are some defining traits of what it means to be hip: a conscious for style or fashion, a need to be "in the know," and a desire to elevate one's status. Linking these traits is a new characteristic that has been revealed to me, and this is the quest for a higher status. My analysis of my music video allowed me to realize that much of hip revolves around an almost omnipresent chase for that which will elevates a person's status. Many of the readings assigned to the class have either directly or indirectly alluded to that forges this concept of hip. Thus, I have discovered that hip goes beyond fashion--clothing and accessories are but accessories themselves to hip--and that truly hip is about a person lifting his or herself above others, or onto the same level. John Leland allowed me to understand a person's pursuit of nobility, and how this more than anything else deems what is and isn't hip. For example, having wealth is something of bottom line for hip; a rich person can inherently be hip simply because he or she possesses lots of money. However, how does a rich person elevate their status, or what does a rich person deem as hip? Well, perhaps it's a larger more fancy house, expensive cars, grand vacations. More likely though, it's information or knowledge. Knowledge that none other has is power. Therefore, hip may be tied to power, but let's stay with the idea of wealth as the bottom line and knowledge as the elevating factor. Now we can understand where fashion comes into play. A vintage shirt conveys wealth and subsequently power, yet a working-class or lower middle-class may not be able to afford such a shirt. However, that's why there are thrift shops and why "thrifting" is such a huge hit because it affords those who are not rich the opportunity to taste wealth and power. Thrift shops are only one example, but they embody this concept of elevating one's status. Similarly, the possession of little-known knowledge is to be treasured, for it gives even those who are not rich an status boost. If you know what the politics or affairs are of another country, state, city, town, or person are, then you have power, and your status is raised. It is my belief that hip can now be known as a manifestation of the inherent class differences of the United States and the general inequality that is present in the world.