1800s Hipsters

A hipster is considered someone who breaks the "social norm" of society, whether that is clothing or literature; and when we began looking at transcendentalist literature this week, I realized that they largely relate to modern day hipsters. For example, David Foster Wallace takes on the persona of a quirky man, with a bandana tied around his forehead keeping back his long hair. He defiantly fits the outward standards, considering we commonly associate hipsters with fashion choices. But, in this case the definition is more applied to literature, which Wallace also achieves. To begin with, transcendentalists tend to utilize nature references within there literary pieces, and during the era when this group arose, that was considered less common. Also, looking at Henry David Thoreau's writings, you see his emphasis on stepping away from what everyone else is participating in; He encourages humanity to stand up for what they believe in, even if that includes breaking government regulations. Thoreau's message eventually inspired some of the greatest activists such as Mahatma Gandi and Martin Luther King Jr. His purpose, once again, illustrates how transcendentalist could be considered hipsters.