Access and Boundaries. Mapping Hipsterism

The article conducts a critical analysis of the hipster phenomenon from the perspectives of geographic, material, mental, perceived, and socially produced space. The study is based on Henri Lefebvre’s triadic model and uncovers contradictions within hipsterism that extend beyond the original model. Lefebvre conceptualized space as a coherent structure containing three moments that determined how space is perceived, conceived, and ultimately lived. However, the author’s observations challenge this model, revealing that in hipster spaces, contrary to Lefebvre’s model, these dimensions merge inconsistently and incoherently. The research interaction with hipster space during fieldwork includes participant observation, providing primary sources of perceptions of lived and socially produced dimensions. The direct experience of interacting with its symbolism and order conveyed meaning that was irritating. It expressed certain values that were nevertheless marked by contradictions. Living hipsterism is presented as a realm of contradictions, embodying real and imagined elements, intertwining the materialism of spatial practices with the idealism of space representation. By reinterpreting field notes, the author reveals the overt contradictions between perceived and “conceived” dimensions of hipsterism. The study of the materiality of space and its interpretation uncovers divergences, demonstrating that idealistic elements in the concept of hipsterism often do not take material form. Specific examples are used to elucidate these contradictions, offering a nuanced understanding of how concepts and perceptions of space collide in hipsterism. The article concludes by examining three practical contradictions related to cultural interaction, the denial of the “hipster” label, and the pursuit of authentic experience in a context not connected to heritage or reality. These contradictions become key components of the dynamics of hipsterism, expressing awareness of issues, including gentrification.

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