An analysis of the hipster (sub)culture and Its reflection in HBO’s TV series girls

Abstract

According to the casting call posted by Lena Dunham at Backstage.com, one feels tempted to classify the TV series Girls as a hipster show automatically. In fact, this is what its creators and producers have been trying to do since its premiere. This association with this alternative subculture was also emphasized by the differences that the new program presented with respect to its predecessor, Sex in the City. In contrast to its snob protagonists, Girls major characters are designed to give the impression of sharing the characteristics that are considered essential in hipsters, as I will demonstrate. Thus, Hannah Horvath, the protagonist, proclaims herself as "the voice of her generation" in the pilot; and its creators, especially she, try to give that voice hipster-like tones. However, as Michael Scott clearly asserts, "'hipster' and 'hipsterism' are notoriously difficult to define". Notwithstanding this complexity and, in connection with the methodology that I follow in this work, it is my aim to use a solid theoretical background to analyze, first, the features present in Girls that might be connected to its hipster nature; then, I will study their authenticity, with the objective of reflecting on the reasons why those elements might have been used by its creators, to see if they are connected to capitalist economic interests, which is one of my hypotheses. The conclusions of this paper will show the results of the above mentioned analysis. As there are not many academic studies on the hipster and the hipster culture as relevant specialists recognise (e.g.: Schiermer 168), the analysis that I propose here is quite original and necessary. Even more so, if we take into account the fact that most definitions of hipsters are centered on male ones, but little attention is given to female hipsters. Lena Dunham helps to eliminate this stereotype as well as others connected to this type of alternative people (not without controversy).