Peter York's reputation was largely built on the book "The Sloane Ranger Handbook", co-written with the late Ann Barr. It really was a handbook on how a particular (mainly) English community lived, dressed and loved. But what was described was not a "life-style" - the people were born into its ways, largely following generations of wealth and privilege.Comprehensively packed with fascinating information the book however contained few great surprises - the young people not only continued their parents - even grandparents' values, they often also wore their actual clothes. "The Hipster" in contrast is a pop-up phenomenon; without precedent and, to outsiders, entirely mysterious. 10-15 years ago single speed bicycles carrying young men with large beards began to travel from the East (London) to London's West End. The phenomenon however was the beards not the bicycles. But unlike fashions of earlier periods, there was no flaunting, no strutting, no competitive display. The riders rather serious demeanour suggested membership of strict Amish-like community with its home in East London. What on Earth did it mean? This was Peter York's starting point. He strides the cobbled streets of former grimy industrial East London - now a primary-coloured new-media hot-spot carrying out participant observation, accumulating much evidence and testimony. As often the case, the natives (of Shoreditch) provide clues rather than direct answers. York brings in two other wrinklies highly skilled in the profane arts of Marketing and Advertising to help crack the code. Is it a spiritual movement? Do York - and his colleagues - crack it? Yes they do. It has to do with a serious search for "authenticity", yet this can be rather contrived, a sometimes inauthentic authenticity. How can this seeming contradiction be resolved?
I found it an entertaining and fascinating journey. Before watching, I was entirely mystified how old worn kitchen shelves could be rescued from a rubbish skip, have their original smooth wooden door panels replaced with (real) chicken netting, be left with original (missing) paint and yet sold for £300. Now I know. Next year will such items return to the skips from whence they originally came? Will shaving soap and the badger be the new fashion?
I found it an entertaining and fascinating journey. Before watching, I was entirely mystified how old worn kitchen shelves could be rescued from a rubbish skip, have their original smooth wooden door panels replaced with (real) chicken netting, be left with original (missing) paint and yet sold for £300. Now I know. Next year will such items return to the skips from whence they originally came? Will shaving soap and the badger be the new fashion?
