Hippies Case

Definition Essay

Hippie

When you look in the dictionary at the definition of a hippie it is stated as " a young person who rejects the mores of established society (as by dressing unconventionally or favoring communal living), advocates a nonviolent ethic and often uses psychedelic drugs or marijuana; broadly a long-haired unconventionally dressed young person." If you ask an average person what they think a hippie is they will probably say a person with long hair, tie-dye clothes and peace signs around their necks. Both definitions are correct. They didn't follow after their parents, but made an alternative culture, which was their very own. They thought of being a hippie as a way of life. In my opinion there are three different types of hippies, they are the hipster hippie, the holistic hippie and the tie-dye hippie.

Hipster hippies are the subculture of men and women typically in their twenties and thirties that value independent thinking, counter-culture, and progressive politics. Although "hipsterism" is really a state of mind, it is also often intertwined with distinct fashion sensibilities. Hipsters reject the culturally-ignorant attitudes of mainstream consumers and are often seen wearing vintage and thrift store inspired fashions, tight-fitting jeans, old-school sneakers and sometimes thick rimmed glasses. Both hipster men and women sport similar androgynous hair styles that include combinations of messy shag cuts and asymmetric side-swept bangs. Hipsters shun mainstream communal conventions that apply to dating preferences and traditional "rules" of physical attraction. It is part of the hipster belief not to be influenced by mainstream advertising and media, which tends to only promote prejudice ideals of beauty. The concepts of androgyny and feminism have influenced hipster culture, where hipster men are often as thin as the women they date. Hipsters are also very racially open-minded and the greatest number of interracial couples in any urban environment are typically found within the hipster subculture.

Next, I would like to address the holistic hippie; this is the hippie that believes in everything natural. They feel that by living a holistic lifestyle it makes them a whole person. The mind controls the body. Therefore, the "mind state" is the key to assessing the energetic balance of the heart and soul. By keeping their energy positive and enlightened it can help encourage their wellness, just as negative thought patterns can continue to make them sick. Since the main cause of illness is stress, understanding how to control your stress levels is imperative. Many holistic hippies control their stress by doing yoga or meditation. Holistic hippies believe that the body follows the mind. When the body is energetically out of balance, it is important to access what is causing the imbalance