Everyone hated dandies back in the 18th and 19th centuries: their pomposity, their apathy, their inheritances, their imitation. How reminiscent of our lovely hipsters.
They’ve been in denial for the past 300 years. So they turned in their top hats and knotted cravats for empty Ray-Ban frames and a pair of Toms, but they’re still the same hipsters. Comparisons run deep, but the real question is: Why this reoccurrence? Is it a reoccurrence, or is there in every time period a certain sector of the population that models itself after ideals like these?
Perhaps the closest comparison between the modern Eugene hipster and the dandy of the romantic period is that of the Russian aristocratic dandy. But first, a bit of background on the dandy. Dandies emerged out of the upper crust of British and French society during the Romantic period and perhaps even a bit before. The model British dandy was Beau Brummell, an immaculately dressed and preened eccentric fellow who had done close to nothing to garner the greatness that he was ascribed, besides looking good. And, surprise, surprise, he could never admit to being a dandy.
Needless to say, all high society was modeled after the French or British, and the rugged and unrefined Russians were some of the worst imitators. The French were as contrived as their imported styles of dress and mannerisms. Eugene hipsters wish they were in Portland, San Francisco, New York or some other relevant culture-generating foci.
Most dandies, who weren’t self-made, had been willed fortunes by family members who had benefitted from the upstart of the industrial revolution. We all know that one friend who’s on the phone every Friday night before it’s time to hit the bars, house parties or wherever, chiding their parents for an extra $50 or $100 to blow (or worse they have their parents’ credit card). Trustafarians, we call them. Instead of working normal jobs and making normal money, they make daily house calls to their acquaintances and maybe engage in a “Kumbaya” rendition on the guitar. Ah, to live in such bliss.
Dueling used to be a big thing among dandies. If there was a tussle to be settled, the guns would be brandished and the paces set. Today, that doesn’t really happen. If anything, there’s something of a passive-aggressive vibe that goes with the progressive hipster. But believe me, concerning the realm of authenticity and personal-brand dedication, teeth are bared on the regular among hipsters. Consider this overheard “party convo”:
Hipster A: “So, I was on Pitchfork last night, checking out the Smith Westerns’ rad new tunes…”
Hipster B: “Shut. The. Hell. Up. Bro.”
Hipster A: (Pitiful/whiny voice) “What’s wrong?”
Hipster B: “This is why I can’t take you out anymore. P4k is so frickin’ 2k8 and Jesus H., don’t even get me started on that crappy Chicago band … Jesus, we’re done.”
Do you even understand what went down? Probably not. Hipster lingo is pretty esoteric and indecipherable. The gist is that one hipster not only shot down the other’s musical taste, but also and most importantly, Hipster B crushed Hipster A on his use of Pitchfork Media, a recently alt-turned-mainstream music website. The hipster’s authenticity as a hipster was challenged, and in turn refuted. Unfortunate.
Dandy-ism was temporarily squelched by the rise of Victorianism, a period characterized by the resurgence of conservatism and church. In the meantime, all we can do is hope a new movement comes along to smother them.
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