Highbrow Magazine - starbucks https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/starbucks en Why Coffee Culture Continues to Evolve https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/5110-why-coffee-culture-continues-evolve <div class="field field-name-field-cat field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/food" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Food</a></div></div></div><span class="submitted-by">Submitted by tara on Mon, 07/06/2015 - 15:56</span><div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/1coffee.jpg?itok=g4PHN1HI"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/1coffee.jpg?itok=g4PHN1HI" width="480" height="300" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p> </p> <p>Drip coffee. French press. Espresso. Double espresso. Cold brew. Latte on draft. There are very few things people are as loyal to as they are to their favorite coffee - from bean to brew method to barista.</p> <p> </p> <p>We consume <a href="http://www.globalexchange.org/fairtrade/coffee/faq">12 billion pounds</a> of coffee per year worldwide. About 83 percent of adults in the U.S. consume coffee. Ninety percent of coffee production takes place in developing countries, with Brazil at the number one spot.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Brewing Trends</strong></p> <p> </p> <p>Everyone knows the classic diner drip coffee, and once in a while even ardent coffee connoisseurs might crave one. (Insert arrogant scoff here.)</p> <p> </p> <p>From K-cup to Bee House there are many options for brewing coffee.</p> <p> </p> <p><br /> <img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/2coffee.jpg" style="height:416px; width:625px" /></p> <p> </p> <p>According to a recent <a href="http://www.medicaldaily.com/new-dawn-americans-are-drinking-less-coffee-while-paying-more-thanks-keurig-coffee-339576">article</a> in <em>Medical Daily</em>, coffee consumption is actually down but Americans are spending more thanks to the popularity of Keurig machines. While the pods can’t be recycled, the one-cup method means less coffee is being wasted. It also means less is probably being consumed - with one cup only, there’s no potential to continue topping off your drink to keep it hot. The <a href="http://www.ncausa.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=1">National Coffee Association</a> reports that more than a quarter of American households own single-serve brewers.</p> <p> </p> <p>There are also scientific looking single-cup devices like the Chemex. The German-designed contraption has barely changed since 1941. Peter Schlumbohm’s designs were called “a synthesis of logic and madness.” Four to five tablespoons should be ground coarsely for this method.</p> <p> </p> <p>For a nice-bodied cup or a few cups of coffee, French press is your friend. Its design has barely changed since it was invented in 1929, and it’s a great way to get a fresh cup of coffee in five minutes. The method is pretty simple: grind fresh beans coarsely, add three tablespoons to the French press and fill with boiling water. Mix to evenly distribute the beans, and allow to steep anywhere from 4-7 minutes before pressing down slowly.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Health Benefits of Coffee</strong></p> <p> </p> <p>Research tends to show that dark foods and drinks such as coffee provide many health benefits.</p> <p> </p> <p>It has been shown to lessen the likelihood of Parkinson’s Disease, though it seems to be due to the caffeine, and how it works has not yet been discovered. It’s been shown to lower the risk of dementia when three or more cups are consumed daily.</p> <p> </p> <p>Other benefits are possible regardless of whether the coffee is regular or decaf.</p> <p> </p> <p><br /> <img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/3coffee.jpg" style="height:406px; width:608px" /></p> <p> </p> <p>It may lessen the likelihood of getting Type 2 diabetes, according to an Australian study. Though there are many antioxidants in coffee, it hasn’t been determined if those antioxidants appear in the bloodstream when consumed.</p> <p> </p> <p>Coffee may prevent heart attack and stroke. In a Kaiser Permanente study, 130,000 people were analyzed, and those drinking 1-3 cups of coffee a day were 20 percent less likely to be hospitalized for abnormal heart rhythms, according to WebMD. A 2009 study showed a 20 percent lower risk of stroke for women drinking two cups of coffee or more daily. It possibly reduces the likelihood of liver cancer.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Risks: How much is too much?</strong></p> <p> </p> <p>Coffee is a mild diuretic, so it may make you urinate more. It also contains acid which may upset your stomach and cause heartburn. A plain cup of coffee has only two calories, according to the <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/weight-loss/expert-answers/calories/faq-20058100">Mayo Clinic</a>, but the more sweeteners and milk products you add in, the more calories you’ll consume.</p> <p> </p> <p>Caffeine consumption should be limited to 400mg per day for healthy adults, which is about four cups of brewed coffee. So be careful when you’re at a restaurant or the office with free “top-ups” available. You can easily consume a day’s worth just in one sitting. People with heart problems or anxiety problems should avoid caffeine.</p> <p> </p> <p><br /> <img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/4coffee.jpg" style="height:423px; width:625px" /></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Oh You Fancy, Huh?</strong></p> <p> </p> <p><a href="https://www.nespresso.com/us/en/#/">Nespresso</a> has made enjoying espresso easier than ever. It literally takes the push of one button to get a great fresh espresso. Some coffee loyalists will argue that this is a deterrent to small producers and <a href="http://sprudge.com/specialty-delivery-nerd-feels-need-to-nip-nespresso-24003.html">a sad state of affairs</a> for the future of coffee. Nespresso fans are happy with the convenience, taste and exclusivity of the brand.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Ice, Ice, Baby</strong></p> <p> </p> <p>Cold brew recently became the go-to for the craft coffee crowd feeling like something cold.</p> <p> </p> <p>Of course to some people, Frappuccino is the only acceptable cold coffee drink. Frozen and laden with sugar, the concoction took the summer by storm when it was introduced in 1995. Twenty years later, the beverage has 187,000 Twitter followers. Now Philadelphia-based La Colombe is introducing its own <a href="http://www.phillymag.com/business/2015/06/23/la-colombe-canned-latte/">canned latte</a>, complete with a built-in valve to create a foamy texture.</p> <p><br /> The cold coffee revolution will continue to heat up, while loyalists remain true to their favorite hot rituals. Some will jump into the <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2015-04-21/buttered-coffee-could-make-you-invincible-and-this-man-very-rich">buttered coffee</a> health trend. The coffee world will continue buzzing, one cup at a time.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Author Bio:</strong></p> <p><strong><em>Beth Kaiserman is</em> Highbrow Magazine’s <em>chief food critic.</em></strong></p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/coffee" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">coffee</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/french-press" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">french press</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/drip-coffee" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">drip coffee</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/iced-coffee" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">iced coffee</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/starbucks" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">starbucks</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/peets-coffee" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">peet&#039;s coffee</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/colombian-coffee" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">colombian coffee</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/brazilian-coffee" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">brazilian coffee</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/drinking-coffee" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">drinking coffee</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-author field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Beth Kaiserman</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pop field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Popular:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">not popular</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-photographer field-type-text field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Photographer:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Google Images; Wikipedia Commons</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-bot field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Bottom Slider:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Out Slider</div></div></div> Mon, 06 Jul 2015 19:56:13 +0000 tara 6158 at https://www.highbrowmagazine.com https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/5110-why-coffee-culture-continues-evolve#comments Seattle: The Myths & Reality of the Emerald City https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/1649-seattle-myths-reality-emerald-city <div class="field field-name-field-cat field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/travel" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Travel</a></div></div></div><span class="submitted-by">Submitted by tara on Mon, 10/08/2012 - 14:55</span><div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/mediumseattle_panorama.JPG?itok=nhi9Pipr"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/mediumseattle_panorama.JPG?itok=nhi9Pipr" width="480" height="254" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>  </p> <p> Rising like vertical lines of steel against a backdrop of evergreen mountains and dark water, Seattle has a popular reputation for being a high-tech city with some very granola roots. Hosting the headquarters of a number of powerful, global corporations such as Starbuck’s and Amazon.com, Seattle and its vast metropolitan area – which runs mostly along the edges of Puget Sound and Lake Washington – is the largest urban center in the Pacific Northwest and it single-handedly sways the politics of the entire region.</p> <p>  </p> <p> While most people think of grungy hipsters, delicious coffee or overcast skies when the name ‘Seattle’ is mentioned, one may wonder: How much of this is accurate and how much is exaggeration? I’ll do my best as an 11 year resident to give my genuine perspective. Please note that this article is merely the opinion of one writer and as such, the lens through which I’ve experienced this city is colored by events and people which have come across my path in my decade plus of living here.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Myth: Seattle is full of left-wing hippies.</strong></p> <p> <strong>Fact: MOSTLY TRUE</strong></p> <p> Like many West Coast cities, Seattle is generally a liberal political hotbed. However, it is more of a “live and let live” representation of the Left Wing than the aggressive San Francisco brand. There are also very strong Libertarian streaks in this blue city, so California this is not. It is wise not to equate this cooler approach with apathy, however, as it is a quiet giant when it comes to the voting both; Seattle’s King county alone has delivered the (sometimes) razor-thin victories to many Democratic Senate and gubernatorial candidates in recent years. However, its presence as a heavy weight on the left-leaning political scale has fostered some resentment from the rest of the more rural areas of the state which are largely conservative. Still, with a large voter turnout in many elections, Seattle has maintained a strong hold on many powerful public positions in Washington state.</p> <p>  </p> <p> With major initiatives on the November 2012 ballot, such as legalizing gay marriage or the sale of small amounts of marijuana to people over 21, we will see if Seattle’s political gravity is strong enough to make Washington one of the first states to approve both controversial policies by a public vote.</p> <p>  </p> <p> There is an extreme openness to alternative lifestyles and a propensity for large-scale protesting. I don’t think a month has gone by in my living here where there wasn’t a mass protest about something or another in downtown Seattle. You can call them “laidback” but there is a fiery dedication here to the First Amendment.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/seattlepikemarket%20%28PictonymFlickr%29.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 578px; " /></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Myth: Seattle people are cold, unfriendly hipsters.</strong></p> <p> <strong>Fact: 50-50 TRUTH</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> To be frank, this rainy city is well-known for a social phenomenon called “the Seattle Freeze.” It’s a theory that suggests Seattle residents are somewhat cold and unfeeling in their interactions. While I have certainly experienced this (probably more than I would care to admit), I would argue that patience, endurance, and hard work are required to form solid relationships. While I will not go so far as to call the people unfriendly – as I do think there is a general level of courteousness and a desire not to offend – there is most definitely a general lack of warmth. A psychologist friend of mine once said, “The people here need a certain amount of social insulation, and they are not quick to adopt others into their tight social circle.” Perhaps it is the dark winters or depravation of direct sunlight, but there does seem to be a consensus that it takes time for people to open up to strangers. This could very well be weather-related as the summertime does seem to bring out the more extroverted nature in people.</p> <p>  </p> <p> As far as fitting the Seattle stereotype of a hipster, well, there are plenty of people who do act the part. Most West Coast cities do seem to have an air of casualness that East Coasters often dub “beach bum”, and there is a more relaxed sense of fashion and workplace attitude in Seattle. It is not uncommon to see people going to work in flip-flops and shorts (at least in the summer time). Some employers even allow their workers to bring pets to the workplace. And while I can’t say for sure that the majority of companies have such easy-going policies, there does seem to be a less restrictive mindset than what I experienced working in the Midwest. However, only a small number of people would be caught dead in skinny jeans and gothic eyeliner.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/spaceneedle1.JPG" style="width: 577px; height: 800px; " /></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Myth: It rains like cats and dogs in Seattle.</strong></p> <p> <strong>Fact: MOSTLY FALSE</strong></p> <p> Most people associate rain with Seattle. Part of that pairing is well-deserved as the “rainy season” here usually lasts from October to May (and more often than not, into June – which is also known here as “the June Gloom”). However, what most people do not realize is that the rainfall in Seattle is generally more of a gentle pecking than a rampant down pour - at least most of the time. This writer grew up in Iowa where a rain shower is an explosive affair which will thoroughly soak your clothing. Whereas in Seattle, I have often walked several blocks without an umbrella only to have some wet hair and raindrop scars on my jeans.</p> <p>  </p> <p> In fact, other U.S. cities not known for heavy precipitation routinely see more inches of the wet stuff than Seattle. While this sounds like a relief, we pay for it with incessant gray. Winter in Seattle is like <em>Mordor</em> in “Lord of the Rings”: A land abandoned by hope with an ash-colored sky. Our saving grace is the white-capped mountains which receive the majority of the snowfall in their upper elevations. They sit like frozen bookends on the east and west horizons of the city. And although our deciduous trees shed themselves of leaves in the colder seasons, our evergreens maintain their dark pine color throughout the year.</p> <p>  </p> <p> The prize at the end of this depressing race is the Seattle summer. Generally, July 4 is considered the official start of the warm season and can last through September if the fates cooperate. Summer in Seattle is a warm, not-too-humid affair filled with plenty of outdoor festivals, boating and a mass exodus to the mountains for exploration of the numerous hiking trails.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/seattlebest%20%28RachelVoorhees%20Wiki%29.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 400px; " /></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Myth: Seattle is a great foodie destination</strong></p> <p> <strong>Fact: 100 Percent TRUE</strong></p> <p> Many of my friends who dabble in the culinary arts have commented that Seattle is a wonderful city for foodies, particularly when it comes to sea food. Places like the Pike Place Market regularly receive an abundance of fresh fish, oysters and crab for home cooking, and the many local farmers’ markets bring organic produce and animal products from the many regional farms outside the city. The large, resident Asian populations infuse the city with a diverse range of restaurant options with authentic Thai, Vietnamese and Chinese establishments. Thai food is particularly delicious and popular in Seattle.</p> <p>  </p> <p> Coffee is a near staple of daily life (perhaps to keep ones eyes open during the dark and melancholy winter), and Starbuck’s naturally has hundreds of locations in the metropolitan area – some within a block of each other. There are, however, many other smaller, popular coffee chains in Seattle ready to serve the hot caffeine desired by the masses: Tully’s, Seattle’s Best, and Peet's Coffee &amp; Tea.</p> <p>  </p> <p> Beer connoisseurs would also find a happy home in Seattle with a number of breweries present in the city and surrounding communities. The neighborhood of Fremont hosts an annual Oktoberfest which allows locals to sample a pint of gold from all over the map. For the wine lover, some of Washington state’s own vineyards (most from east of the mountains) keep the local supply of red and white fresh and flowing all year long.</p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p> In conclusion, and as with most cities, Seattle is a mix of surprises and the occasional true stereotype. One’s own individual experience is what colors the perception. Look for bad and you’ll probably find the worst, but look for the good and it’s likely you’ll find the best.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Author Bio:</strong></p> <p> <em>Snapper Ploen is a contributing writer and photographer at</em> Highbrow Magazine.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <em><strong>Photos: Snapper S. Ploen; Pictonym, Rachel Voorhees (Creative Commons).</strong></em></p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/seattle" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Seattle</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/washington-state" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Washington State</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/seattles-best-coffee" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Seattle&#039;s Best coffee</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/starbucks" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">starbucks</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/hippies" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">hippies</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/seattle-weather" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">seattle weather</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/seattle-food" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Seattle food</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/seattle-restaurants" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Seattle restaurants</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/microsoft" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Microsoft</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-author field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Snapper S. Ploen </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pop field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Popular:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">not popular</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-photographer field-type-text field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Photographer:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Snapper S. Ploen</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-bot field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Bottom Slider:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Out Slider</div></div></div> Mon, 08 Oct 2012 18:55:54 +0000 tara 1695 at https://www.highbrowmagazine.com https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/1649-seattle-myths-reality-emerald-city#comments Rebel Without a Cause: The Eventual Demise of the Hipster https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/1442-rebel-without-cause-eventual-demise-hipster <div class="field field-name-field-cat field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/news-features" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">News &amp; Features</a></div></div></div><span class="submitted-by">Submitted by tara on Thu, 08/02/2012 - 17:16</span><div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/1mediumhipsters%20%28oinonioFLICKR%29.jpg?itok=b1UFHcfo"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/1mediumhipsters%20%28oinonioFLICKR%29.jpg?itok=b1UFHcfo" width="480" height="360" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p> </p> <p>The hipster is dying. Or rather, the culture of the hipster is dying. As its dogma is being absorbed into the mainstream, what options are left for the originals but to fade and maybe reincarnate as a new subculture?</p> <p> </p> <p>The hipster has never been completely defined. Websites such as <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=hipster&amp;defid=2705928">UrbanDictionary.com</a> and the comedy site <a href="ttp://www.cracked.com/funny-4573-hipster/"><em>Cracked</em></a> state characteristics of today’s hipster: an appreciation for Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer, the tendency to wear thrift-store and vintage threads, having obscure music tastes and being obsessed with being different from the mainstream. Hipsters operate under irony.</p> <p> </p> <p>There are hipsters who live for music, hipsters who idolize past decades, people who fancy the hipster lifestyle, etc.</p> <p> </p> <p> The vibe hipsters give off is “cool;” they are the James Deans of our generation, rebelling against society by the mere act of existing. As stated in <a href="http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1913220,00.html"><em>Time </em>magazine</a>, “Everything about [hipsters] is exactingly constructed to give off the vibe that they just don’t care.”</p> <p> </p> <p>These characteristics are mostly shown in a negative light, as pointed out by the <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/oct/14/hate-hipsters-blogs">2010 <em>Guardian</em> article</a>, “Why do people hate hipsters?” The article chronicles the appearance and multitude of anti-hipster blogs on both sides of the Atlantic: Look at this F**king Hipster, Unhappy Hipster, and Hackney Hipster Hate, to name a few. These blogs aren’t alone in their distaste for hipsters; articles abound criticizing the group, and when brought up in conversation, the majority of remarks are harsh.</p> <p> </p> <p>Historically, the <a href="http://www.usatodayeducate.com/staging/index.php/blog/campus-beat-the-rise-in-student-hipster-culture">hipster</a> is the newest wave of the counterculture movement; their predecessors  are the Beatniks, hippies, punks and hip-hop enthusiasts. These groups had agendas and worked for social causes; rioting, rebelling and producing works that would in turn change standards and even government policies.</p> <p> </p> <p>What is perhaps most  peculiar about the hipster culture is, as many say, its inability to create. Hipsters are, in essence, consumers—buying products to produce their structured, unassuming looks. Hipsters also rehash; as worshippers of authenticity and originality, they draw upon influences strictly in the past.</p> <p> </p> <p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/2mediumhipsters%20%28HarlanHarrisFLICKR%29.jpg" style="height:521px; width:731px" /></p> <p> </p> <p>The word <em>hipster</em> itself is recycled, originally intended to define the white middle-class men of the 1950s who imitated the African-American jazz musicians and their lifestyles.  As explained in Norman Mailer’s essay, “The White Negro,” its opening paragraph describes the modern hipster perfectly: “Our search for the rebels of the generation led us to the hipster. The hipster is an enfant terrible turned inside out. In character with his time, he is trying to get back at the conformists by lying tow ... You can’t interview a hipster because his main goal is to keep out of a society which, he thinks, trying to make everyone over in its own image.”</p> <p> </p> <p>So what have hipsters contributed to our culture? Not much, apparently. Hipsters today are ideal consumers—they buy products to cultivate an image. Prior to the rise of the hipster, the hip-hop movement employed socially conscious lyrics in their music to raise awareness about various social and political  issues. While there may be some original hipsters—say, green-savvy hipsters who use bikes as a means of transportation, who  fight for societal changes, they are overshadowed by the fashion-conscious, consumer-hungry, narcissist hipsters of today.</p> <p> </p> <p>It is interesting to note that very few individuals actually label themselves as hipsters. Nowadays, there is a thin line between being a hipster and simply part of the mainstream. So much has been borrowed from <em>hipsterdom</em>—the fashion (Urban Outfitters and American Apparel), the music (Arcade Fire winning and performing at the Grammys), the lifestyle (photographing and blogging everything). The only way for the hipster to retain his or her identity is to shun the very label that has been created for him or her. It is an awareness that to label oneself is to become mainstream, and therefore lose all credibility.</p> <p> </p> <p>In <em>Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery</em>, Dr. Evil says to Austin Powers, “There is nothing more pathetic than an aging hipster.” While the original hipster will cling to his or her beliefs, which is more admirable, the modern hipster will cling to his or her perception of cool. The hipster will be constantly fighting against the mainstream as time goes on, and perpetually losing as consumerism rises, unless this counter-culture can find a productive niche.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Author Bio:</strong></p> <p><strong><em>Gabriella Tutino is a contributing writer at</em> Highbrow Magazine. </strong></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>For Highbrow Magazine</strong></p> <p> </p> <p><em><strong>Photos: Oiniono, Flickr; Harlan Harris, Flickr (Creative Commons).</strong></em></p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/hipster" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">hipster</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/hipsters" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">hipsters</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/subculture" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">subculture</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/mainstream" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">mainstream</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/urban-outfitters" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">urban outfitters</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/scooters" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">scooters</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/mopeds" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">mopeds</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/vespa" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">vespa</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/norman-mailer" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Norman Mailer</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/austin-powers" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Austin Powers</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/dr-evil" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Dr. Evil</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/starbucks" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">starbucks</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/thrift-store" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">thrift store</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/beer" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">beer</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/cracked" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">cracked</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-author field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Gabriella Tutino</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pop field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Popular:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">not popular</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-photographer field-type-text field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Photographer:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Oinonio, Flickr (Creative Commons)</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-bot field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Bottom Slider:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Out Slider</div></div></div> Thu, 02 Aug 2012 21:16:13 +0000 tara 1340 at https://www.highbrowmagazine.com https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/1442-rebel-without-cause-eventual-demise-hipster#comments Popularity of American Fast Food Leads to Rise of Obesity in Asia https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/1274-popularity-american-fast-food-leads-rise-obesity-asia <div class="field field-name-field-cat field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/food" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Food</a></div></div></div><span class="submitted-by">Submitted by tara on Sun, 07/08/2012 - 17:00</span><div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/mediumfastfoodasia.jpg?itok=IdvCzYio"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/mediumfastfoodasia.jpg?itok=IdvCzYio" width="480" height="268" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>  </p> <p> From <a href="http://newamericamedia.org/2012/07/obesity-in-asia-american-fast-food-is-fare-for-the-rich.php">New America Media</a>:</p> <p>  </p> <p> Each time I visit my homeland, Vietnam, I find that many of my relatives have gotten wealthier and progressively fatter, especially their overly pampered children. One cousin in Saigon [Ho Chi Minh City] in particular is raising an obese child. When asked why she was feeding him so much she simply shrugged and said, “Well, we barely had enough to eat during the Cold War. Now that I have money, I just let my son eat what he wants.”</p> <p>  </p> <p> Unfortunately what that entails for her boy is access to an array of American-owned chains like KFC, Pizza Hut, Carl Jr.’s, and most recently, Burger King. His favorite meal? “Pizza and Coke,” the boy answered with glee.</p> <p>  </p> <p> Besides the tasty draw of fatty foods and sweet sodas, there’s another reason why such establishments are making inroads in countries that are otherwise known for their excellent culinary traditions. Unlike in the U.S., where fast food is perceived as time saving and cheap and often the preferred meal of the working poor, in Asia places like Burger King and Pizza Hut are the fare of choice for those with dispensable incomes. For a regular factory worker in Vietnam who makes a few dollars a day, eating at KFC is completely out of the question. For those who can afford to eat at one of Pizza Hut’s air-conditioned restaurants in a chic sparkling shopping mall in Hanoi or Saigon, however, eating is only part of the experience. The other part is equally, if not more, important: Consuming American fast food is the proof of one’s economic status in the world.</p> <p>  </p> <p> The writer Ha Jin captured this modern tendency in a hilarious short story called “After Cowboy Chicken Came to Town.” It’s about a family of nouveau riche who book their wedding at a brand new fast food chain called “Cowboy Chicken” -- never mind that the Chinese know 150 better ways to cook the bird -- to celebrate their new wealth in capitalistic China. If the story is hilarious, it is also a sad statement as to how quickly a thousand years of culinary expertise is thrown out for the new – which in this case, is deep- fried chicken and steamed corncobs served up in a paper box.</p> <p>  </p> <p> And if common sense and taste are often the first casualties in a world where western fast food and brand name sodas proliferate at an alarming rate, the ultimate casualty is health itself. According to the World Health Organization, one billion people are malnourished in the world and another billion – many in developing countries—are overweight. At least 300 million of them are clinically obese, and the economic costs of related illnesses are staggering.</p> <p>  </p> <p> While the overall obesity rate in China is somewhere around 5 percent, that number jumps dramatically to around 20 percent in the big cities. Despite the relative small ratio of obese people when compared to that of the U.S., given the size of China’s population (1.35 billion), that 5 percent accounts for about 70 million overweight Chinese.</p> <p>  </p> <p> It would seem that not only are the Chinese catching up with the American economy, but with the American size as well. According to the Chinese Health Ministry, Chinese city boys age 6 are 2.5 inches taller and 6.6 pounds heavier on average than their counterparts 3 decades ago. "China has entered the era of obesity,” Ji Chengye, a leading child health researcher told USA Today. “The speed of growth is shocking." Almost 100 million Chinese now suffer from diabetes.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/2mediumfastfoodasia.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 450px; " /></p> <p>  </p> <p> In this regard, Vietnam too is catching up with China. While 28 percent of rural children suffer from malnutrition, according to the National Institute of Nutrition, 20 percent from urban areas suffer from the opposite: obesity. “The number of overweight and obese kids is increasing at a fast pace in Ho Chi Minh City [formerly known as Saigon] where the highest ratio of children with the problem is recorded,” Do Diep, deputy direct of the Ho Chi Minh City Nutrition Center, told Tien Phong newspaper two years ago.</p> <p>  </p> <p> For many Vietnamese, the irony is all too obvious. Previous generations known as boat people fled out to sea on rickety boats to escape starvation and extreme austerity under communism during the cold war. But they are quickly being replaced by a new generation, one that needs to go to the gym or a fat farm to drop excess weight -- or if they can afford it, “flee” abroad to shop for the latest brand name items like Hermes belts and Louis Vuitton Bags.</p> <p>  </p> <p> Years of struggle against imperialism resulted in an odd defeat: Anything western is automatically deemed superior, no questions asked. It is a situation that one intellectual in Vietnam coined as, “Selling the entire forest to buy a stack of paper.” A case in point: When asked what he wanted from the USA, a cousin in Hanoi didn't hesitate: “Starbucks coffee.” Yes, he’s quite aware that Vietnam is the second largest coffee producer in the world, second only to Brazil; and yes, on practically every block in the city there’s a coffee shop. “But no one has tasted Starbucks coffee in Vietnam,” the cousin explained. “Everyone wants to know what it tastes like.”</p> <p>  </p> <p> These days one reads quite a few articles about the decline of the American empire and the rise of Asia, and in the same breath, how the Chinese are gaining the upper hand in the global economy. But one wonders if that’s true. Because even if declining, America still manages to sell its "superior" lifestyles to the rest of the world in ingenious ways, from food to movies, from musci to fashion -- and in the area of food, as least, our obesity problems as well.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Author Bio:</strong></p> <p> <em>Andrew Lam is author of </em>East Eats West: Writing in Two Hemispheres <em>and </em>Perfume Dreams: Reflections on the Vietnamese Diaspora<em>. His next book, </em>Birds of Paradise Lost<em>, a collection of short stories, will be published next year.</em></p> <p>  </p> <p> <a href="http://newamericamedia.org/">New America Media</a></p> <p>  </p> <p> <em><strong>Photos: New America Media; Creative Commons, Flickr. </strong></em></p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/fast-food-asia" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">fast food in asia</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/starbucks" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">starbucks</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/mcdonalds" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Mcdonalds</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/kentucky-fried-chicken" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">kentucky fried chicken</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/burger-king" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">burger king</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/vietnam" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Vietnam</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/saigon" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Saigon</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/china" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">China</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/japan" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Japan</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tokyo" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Tokyo</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/obesity" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">obesity</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/overweight" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">overweight</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/weight-gain" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">weight gain</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/pizza-hut" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">pizza hut</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/coke" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">coke</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-author field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Andrew Lam</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pop field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Popular:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">not popular</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-photographer field-type-text field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Photographer:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">New America Media</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-bot field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Bottom Slider:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Out Slider</div></div></div> Sun, 08 Jul 2012 21:00:51 +0000 tara 1222 at https://www.highbrowmagazine.com https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/1274-popularity-american-fast-food-leads-rise-obesity-asia#comments