I think the reason the West Coast is considered so hip, and such a fertile ground for making Hollywood movies is because while New York had its own sense of hip brewing, so did Los Angeles. I think it all began during the Gold Rush when James Marshall discovered gold on the American River. Many people came from all over, rushing to San Francisco/ Sacramento to try their luck by striking it rich. This allowed people to leave behind their past and assume a whole 'nother role while in doing so. Before the gold rush, California had no where near the fame that it has today. The gold rush had already attracted a profound amount of people to this end of America, and many of them left everything behind, so what I am saying is they were basically stuck out here. That and also those leaving the mid west because of the harsh growing conditions and the uncooperative soil, all ended up migrating here. They all had something to contribute and that is what turned California into what it is today, a large melting pot of "hip".
Why does everyone want to be like "California"? I don't get it. What is it about that place that no other place has? Well I will tell you. It is like another planet, in a way you wouldn't understand unless you are from there. You can give me flak all you want for being from California and saying how loony and weird I am for being from such a crazy place. But to be honest, you could say the exact same thing about any other state, or any other country for that matter. So isn't that along the lines of discrimination? Didn't we as a nation come to the consensus to kill such an act many decades ago? So what does that make you? If there is one problem I have with people from Idaho, it is that most people here hate super hard on people who move here from California. I am 19 years old. You think I wanted to move here? We came here when I was 13 and I miss my friends and family back home more than anything, not the mention the things that California has to offer than frankly, puts Idaho to shame.
California has just about everything a film maker could ask for. The Sierra Nevadas provide an outstanding back drop for films, as does the Mojave desert and death valley for western films. The ocean can serve as a backdrop for, well, you name it. I think with the west coast being light years ahead of Idaho, hip takes on a substantially more transmogrified shape. Not to say that hip is not ever changing, but it is more evident down there, than it is up here. New styles seem to come and go, as do people's roles. In the morning you can chill in China town, by the afternoon go to the beach, when the evening roles around, build a fire from drift wood and roast potatoes and smores. The next day? hike the Sierra Nevadas, the list goes on and on and on. Not to say that you can't do various things in other places, but California has made haters hate, and has lured millions of people to it's "promise land" all for something right?
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Sunday, February 6, 2011
From nothing to something.
All things are created from somewhere. Hip is no exception. Many things begin in one place, and then with time, later blossom into much more. Hip can essentially be "born" anywhere. From the small town in Alabama to the night life of Los Angeles, hip is truly universal. My opinion stands that hip is originally born in a small environment, and then begins to "adapt" to its surroundings, much like an animal would. I mean, if "hip" is considered to be the latest trend then wouldn't it have to "adapt" to its surroundings?
We know that hip, for the most part, began within the tight quarters of the enslaved Africans in America. (not African American, because think about it, not all black people come from Africa...Yeah, remember in my last post how I said people can be pretty stupid? Anyway,) With the evolution and change that the industrial revolution brought, hip began to evolve and change with it. I do agree with Leland's argument, that urbanizing provides an important role in the way hip takes on its shape. I would also argue that urbanization alone, is not the main ingredient. I think there are many other factors such as people wanting a new trend, certain groups looking to break off from the mainstream, and many other factors.
As I said earlier, hip can basically begin anywhere. Hip can begin as a seemingly harmless idea, that will suddenly skyrocket into a movement. Don't believe me?
A.) The wearing of black armbands to protest the Vietnam War.
B.) Wearing popped collars.
C.) Listening to rap music.
All of the above are past or current demonstrations of being hip.
The black armbands began as a silent way to protest the Vietnam War, and as a result kids were thrown out of school, the bearers were shunned from society, from what I read, it was a mess. But the intent was not to wear them as a fashion statement. The intent was to try and get the message across that many people disagreed with the Vietnam War and the direction the country was headed at the time.
Popped collars and rap music practically go hand in hand. Rap music began as a way for blacks to communicate before and after the midst of the civil war. Now rap has evolved into an entire music genera. I think any educated man could say that rap was never intended to go this far. Robert E Lee and Abe Lincoln would have never thought in a million years rap would have turned into this, and be such the hit that it is today.
Popped collars are another thing. In a song by Three Six Mafia called Poppin' my collar. They make a great effort to make the point that it is cool to pop your collar, and that in doing so will make you that much more "hip." How the clothing industry has evolved. Just fifty years ago, people used to dress as if they were going to meet the president or something of equal magnitude ALL THE TIME. It is pretty rare to see a sight like that nowadays.
Hip comes from all places. Not just from urbanization and not just from the outside of a city, but from everywhere. Because thats what makes being hip unique right? the fact that an idea can be born from literally an empty thought, and yet, be such a trend. How beautiful is that?
We know that hip, for the most part, began within the tight quarters of the enslaved Africans in America. (not African American, because think about it, not all black people come from Africa...Yeah, remember in my last post how I said people can be pretty stupid? Anyway,) With the evolution and change that the industrial revolution brought, hip began to evolve and change with it. I do agree with Leland's argument, that urbanizing provides an important role in the way hip takes on its shape. I would also argue that urbanization alone, is not the main ingredient. I think there are many other factors such as people wanting a new trend, certain groups looking to break off from the mainstream, and many other factors.
As I said earlier, hip can basically begin anywhere. Hip can begin as a seemingly harmless idea, that will suddenly skyrocket into a movement. Don't believe me?
A.) The wearing of black armbands to protest the Vietnam War.
B.) Wearing popped collars.
C.) Listening to rap music.
All of the above are past or current demonstrations of being hip.
The black armbands began as a silent way to protest the Vietnam War, and as a result kids were thrown out of school, the bearers were shunned from society, from what I read, it was a mess. But the intent was not to wear them as a fashion statement. The intent was to try and get the message across that many people disagreed with the Vietnam War and the direction the country was headed at the time.
Popped collars and rap music practically go hand in hand. Rap music began as a way for blacks to communicate before and after the midst of the civil war. Now rap has evolved into an entire music genera. I think any educated man could say that rap was never intended to go this far. Robert E Lee and Abe Lincoln would have never thought in a million years rap would have turned into this, and be such the hit that it is today.
Popped collars are another thing. In a song by Three Six Mafia called Poppin' my collar. They make a great effort to make the point that it is cool to pop your collar, and that in doing so will make you that much more "hip." How the clothing industry has evolved. Just fifty years ago, people used to dress as if they were going to meet the president or something of equal magnitude ALL THE TIME. It is pretty rare to see a sight like that nowadays.
Hip comes from all places. Not just from urbanization and not just from the outside of a city, but from everywhere. Because thats what makes being hip unique right? the fact that an idea can be born from literally an empty thought, and yet, be such a trend. How beautiful is that?
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