Hip:Urbanization vs. Rural America

I suppose I would have to strongly agree with Leland on this issue in particular. To me, the answer to whether or not urbanization plays a role in the creation, origin, and even the development of "Hip" is beyond self evident. I was born in Seattle, Washington, and for the first ten years of my life I lived on the far side of Bainbridge Island in a small town. Now I know many people in Boise would argue that Boise is a small town, but I mean my town was small, as in less than 7,000 people small. None of the kids in my elementary school dressed in name brand stuff, we all wore jeans, our favorite super hero shirts, stupidly big rain coats, and dorky ass rain boots. No one even knew what "hip" or "cool" was, we were blissfully ignorant to the outside world, and what was presently captivating the souls, and imagination of other youth our age in the Emerald City(Seattle) that was just a ferry boats ride away. When my Dad started taking me to work with him at Rare Coins on 3erd avenue in downtown Seattle, I began to notice the other kids, and boy did they ever notice me. The girls would laugh, and giggle at me, pointing at my giant yellow rain boots. The boys wore cloths with brand names such as Abercrombie and Fitch, American Eagle, and Aeropastal. All of these department stores were found at their local mall, and it seemed every kid my age in downtown Seattle was wearing these cloths. Why? What was so cool about a company that sounded like "A bread Crumb and Fish" when you said it or read it fast? We didn't have a mall on the Island, just little stores, and outfitters, most of which had probably never even heard of these weird brands. But never the less, I wanted these cloths because it made these kids something I defiantly wasn't, "Hip". However I'd get my taste of Hip soon enough, believe you me :) HA! When I was ten years old I moved to Rockwall, Texas, a Suburb of the beautiful city of Dallas. There was a mall ten minutes from my house, and I damn well found that out the hard way the first day of 4th grade. I walked into my class room, and if you'd believe it, all the damn kids had Abercrombie and Fitch, and Hollister cloths on. There I am in my Xgames T-shirt, jeans, and converse, who the hell was I? I was the kid who'd just moved 2,000 miles from and island off the coast of Washington State to a suburb of Dallas, Texas that who! All these kids spoke differntly then I did, and they didnt hesitate a moment to let me know it. They asked me where I bought my cloths, if I'd ever been to a mall? I thought no, I'd never seen a mall, but jeez I was only 10 years old, malls are for adults. Apparently not however, parents not just in Texas but it seems, ANY, major metropolitan area take their children to a mall rather frequently, sort of a family outting if you will...Wow. I was behind the times right? Took me three years to figure out how to be Hip, and Cool enough to ward off the persecution and ridicule of being differnent. Ha...and to think most of those assholes who made fun of me back then are still stuck in that little town doing nothing with their lives! Whos laughin now ya'll!? MOVVVING on...

To make sense out of all that I just told you, we must first go back, and look at what I was supposed to take away from this piece; or rather what you my reader are supposed to take away from this. Hippness, cannot, and will not ever come from rural, or country parts of America. I got family back east in Kentucky, and Ohio area, and let me tell ya something, they wouldnt know what Hip was is you slapped em across the face with an Abercrombie shirt, sprayed em with Hollister perfume, put some True Religion Jeans with holes in em on em, and made em listen to Lady Gaga. They'd be dumb founded, scared, and discombobulated beyond repair. Hip is born, and lives in URBAN areas. Straight up fact ladies, and gentlement, is what it is as I always say. You city dwellin folk know how to look "cute", and dress "cool", but ya'll really don't impress me to tell the truth. To me what kinda cloths you wear, or wore back in the day really don't make ya special, your just stuck in that illusion and I hope to whatever gods maybe that you someday come out of your "hipness sickness". My father for example, oh god Dad you'll have to forgive me for dragging you into this, but I would argue that you sort of had it coming, and probably should have expected this. My Dad divorced my Mom when I was 16, and moved out to Los Angeles, California, and thats where my dads midlife crisis, and or 45 year old in denial phase began. My father is pushing 50 years old, but trying to dress like one of the guys off Jersey Shore. I love the man, despite his faults, and failures, he is my Dad, and he did bring me into the world. Anyways, My Dad, my flesh and Blood, parades me around Los Angeles and Malibu California where he resides, all the while he wears Diesel Jeans, True Religions, Affliction T-Shirts with the gay shiney lettering, and Ed Hardy Shirts. I'm dressed in Levis, Vans, and an old Led Zeppelin T-shirt, and an ozzy osbourne trucker hat. Can you imagine the awkward sight we are? Ah well, Dad, you just gave into the urban monster that runs your city of Los Angeles, and the infectious beasts name is Hip. You are no doubt trendy, but in all aspect of life you are foolish, and arrogant to focus so much on the label on your shirt, shoes, ties, and jeans. Hip lives at the core of urban areas, fueling people like my father to waste unspeakable amounts of time, and money on aqquiring a certain look, that in all reality changes every damn year, seriously, who has time for that kind of dedication to image? I much prefer my small town, very uncool, very NOT hip people, because despite the power behind Hip, it has yet to find the power to reach the small rural pockets left in America. I do fear, that someday however, urbanization, and Hip will unite together, and take over America....shit. A bunch of Situations, Pauly Ds. and my Dad running around together. FML

P.S.-Beverly Hills, California has too many mirrors. Ya'll arnt that pretty.


time for class...