Where did all the hipsters go?

there is a theory that the coming economic meltdown will produce something valid from todays youth apart from hipsterdom. at the moment it's all about style and how you want to be perceived by others and judged on the pointless things you buy. todays yoot haven't known this country in crisis. punk being a good example of a reaction towards the state of society, the miners strikes and poll tax riots were the most recent events to engage and provoke a reaction both politically and musically.
creativitity brought about by a countries malaise is often the most powerful form of expression.
buying a white plastic wheel doesn't make you a rebel.

spoken like a true middle-aged man, "the youth of today don't stand for anything, not like back in my day..."

it's a complete loads of bollocks, though. there's plenty of creativity, social engagement and originality coming from "the yoot" today, and equally there was a load of consumerist crap in the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's. most gen-y and millennial kids (fuck i hate those terms but anyway) are so hyper aware of trend marketing and the way it works to exploit them (and the way they exploit it themselves) that i reckon today's yoot are less susceptible to hype and manipulation than any other generation. i don't see apathy and empty consumerism, i see awareness mixed with a dose of studied cynicism and - sure - a bit of a herd mentality (the internet just makes it a bigger herd). but following the herd is not new, nor is it confined to the young. trends just move so fast and virally now, and are much more globalised, that trends can look a bit homogenous and manufactured (people dress the same in london, new york, sydney, berlin...).

to say that young people are only interested in style and how other people perceive you and what stuff you buy is a complete load of shit. sure there are plenty of wankers in this town who are so far up their own arses they're inside out, but let's not make sweeping generalisations based on a few nathan barleys in fucking shoreditch. and let's not forget that there is a big world outside London and New York.

"this economic crisis will finally produce something valid from the yoofs" what the fuck is that? what are 20 year olds supposed to have achieved? sure they haven't changed the world - yet - but give them some time. maybe this economic crisis will bring some creativity, maybe it won't. i hope it does, but the conditions that led to any imagined creative vacuum are the product of the generation now in their 30's and 40's.

sorry to rant but it really gets on my tits when people wheel out the old 'back in my day' high horse. it just makes you sound like a cliche of - dare i say it - an ageing hipster.