Sunday, May 19, 2013

Charlie Parker - Hipster breaks the mould


Jerry Coker defines hipster as someone who rejects wealth and personal success in order to expose the farcical nature of existence.
In many ways Parker epitomises this ethos: He is self-destructive, socially (outrageously) inclusive, satirically witty, suspicious of establishment and he actively seeks out vices to an extent that goes way beyond decadence.
Yet where he both transcends the Hipster identity, (yet also immortalises it) is manifest in his monumental achievement, impossible to discredit, as a true innovator of art. He becomes utterly brilliant in spite of these tremendous efforts to thwart himself.
Is Parker therefore the ultimate ironical Hipster, intent upon non-achievement, or does his immortal significance make him someone who ultimately exposes the fraudulent aspect of a passé cult philosophy?
Whatever his initial intentions, what he does so poignantly, is show that for someone destined for greatness, even the most boisterous attempts to screw things up cannot prevent the paradigm shift occuring. If he starts out as a Hipster, highlighting life's essential tragedy, he finishes up showing us that life's anguish and ridiculousness, is also what gives it meaning and richness.
Charlie Parker is a reluctant hero.

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