If there's one thing to be learned from the new version of the hipster trend it's that you may be hip, but you'll never be "Zooey Deschanel playing the ukulele and avoiding eye-contact" hip. Sure, shows like New Girl and it's manic pixie dream girl (Example/definition) equals may be entertainment, but they're also definitely still trying to sell you things. Sometimes these things aren't even material.
The hip new manic pixie dream girl trope thrives on social awkwardness and "quirky" or unusual behavior. These are all natural human traits. However, when shows romanticize things like awkwardness and anxiety they also simply glaze over the negative implications, making the traits seem interesting or different. Companies are then able to bank in on newly "awkward" people's interests with quizzes, t-shirts and badges that declare just how awkward and quirky you can be. (Which 6th century caveman is your TRUE beau?!)
But is truly being awkward really all that it's cracked up to be? In TV shows and movies it's fun, because you still have friends and everyone laughs at your silly "typical quirky self," but in reality social awkwardness can be crippling, and "quirkiness" is pre-defined by what we're all already consuming. So how "quirky" is it really that you only liked Van Gogh when he had two ears?
To say that I still consider myself fairly awkward after posting this critical post would be hypocritical, but realizing that even your own personality could be so defined by the media you do or do not consume is an interesting thing to consider. Are certain personality traits "trending?" Should I have used the words awkward and quirky 10 less times?
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