TOW #14: How to Live Without Irony

Christy Wampole, a columnist at New York Times, recently published an article that was, for the most part, aimed towards the so-called "hipsters". These "contemporary urban harlequins" who are living a life of irony, nostalgic for times they have never experienced and are partial to outdated fashions, mechanisms, and hobbies. I feel as though this article was written in an appropriate time as this generation as been experiencing a growing phenomena of hipsters. A fad you could call it. Or even a cult. Wampole probably felt a need to address this growing number of hipsters emerging from every suburban corner and making their way to cities with obscure bars and farmers' markets. It also seemed like Wampole's audiences were not only those who identified themselves as being hipsters, but also to those like Wampole, herself. People who are afraid of giving sincere gifts because something about choosing a personal, meaningful gift is too intimate and too momentous. People who give "a kitschy painting from a thrift store" or "plastic Mexican wrestler figures". This is a form of self-defense, instead of potentially running the risk of getting hurt because your friend does not like the gift of sincerity, you evade the whole situation all together. Hipsters and their outmoded fashions, you and your self-defensive gifts ―all forms of ironic living.
I think Christy Wampole did a good job of not only defining the modern-day hipster and how ironic their way of living is, but also adding a personal aspect to it with the use of anecdotes. It made the article more relatable and less insulting. Wampole also utilized ethos, logos, and pathos in her article to make it more interesting and credible. She mentioned relevant and important facts such as the Berlin Wall and Generation X to support her article. Overall, Christy Wampole clearly established her purpose in an interesting and credible manner.