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Fashion and art, much like politics, are almost always downstream of culture. They only reflect the attitudes and worldview of the population, they don’t create those attitudes initially. It’s how style becomes trendy or how a public figure becomes popular; they aren’t saying something new, they’re putting words and giving expression to the prevailing feelings and spirit of the age. In this way people see a style or an expression and say ‘Exactly! That’s how/what I’ve been feeling/thinking’. There is much we can learn about people and cultures by paying attention to their music, style and art. In the 1980’s there was a lust for excess and we saw it in the big hair, wild expressions and super synth keyboard power ballads! In the 1990’s a generation came forth saying ‘if this is what life is all about, I’ll pass’, and the grunge movement was born with the anti-rockstars like Nirvana becoming front-and-center while the disinterested plaid shirt was draped on everyones’ bodies. It all reflected disappointment.
Today we have the ‘Hipster Culture’ as the predominant reflection of the spirit of our day. What does it tell us about our culture? What can we learn from it? A few of the themes I notice as I look around our world are (these are just a few):
-The Distressed ‘Vintage’ Look
-The Repurposing of the Old
-Men Wearing Women’s Jeans (the infamous skinny jean)
-Early 1900’s Mustaches and Beards
-The Irreverent ‘Meh’ Expression (Extreme Boredom)
-Tattoos (lots of tattoos!)
Now, I don’t presume to be a sociologist or expert at much of anything other than ‘longing for something more’ but I do have some thoughts for you to consider knowing that anytime you address things generally you ignore many of the exceptions. Nor am I saying all of these characteristics are bad or wrong…. I’m simply making an effort to interpret the underlying message in the expressions. What I see in much of our culture today points to a longing for connection to something bigger than this moment (something older) and a hope that broken/worn things can be seen as beautiful. Additionally, I see a sincere emptiness that would try to rob men of their genuine masculinity and rob this generation of purpose beyond their own entertainment in this ‘on-demand’ world. I believe by trying to pay attention and making an effort to see these things well, we can partner with the longings of the hearts of this generation and provide some much needed hope and solutions to the questions and longings reflected in the ‘hipster movement’.
As people consider their brokenness and long to be seen as beautiful we can remind them that they need not settle into their brokenness and try and celebrate it for what it is, but that there is a God that loves them in their brokenness and yet makes all things new. As young people long for a connection to something older and bigger than this moment we can help connect them to the Ancient of Days who has been telling His love story throughout the pages of history. We can lead this generation of young men, many of which have grown up without fathers or have been told that being a man is a disappointment (or that men need to be tamed and become more like women), to The Father who demonstrates what true manhood is supposed to look like and how it brings hope and value to women and children instead of objectification and abuse. Men need not believe the day of ‘real men’ came and went years ago (thus trying to reach backwards and find it), they need to see the glorious day of healthy manhood that God is bringing us into as we allow Him to conform us into His image. To the disinterested and bored we can show them a purpose greater than their own comfort and entertainment and help them engage in the epic journey of being loved and led by the God of all eternity.
There is so much hope for this generation and so much we need to listen to and learn from them. They are teaching us very valuable lessons if we will pay attention. In the meantime we need to put on truth and empty ourselves of the substitutes we have settled for. After all, the next generation is only responding to what we’ve sold to them as ‘truth and fulfillment’. Together, let’s reach for and encounter something more; the God of all hope who leads us into all truth! Selah.
Got some thoughts? Am I missing it completely? I’d love to hear from you.
And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” – Revelation 21:5
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. – Romans 13:15
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