Thursday, April 9, 2009

Pomp Videos: The Importance of Being Earnest

Whew, interesting day. Lovely weather, bit of snowfall mixed in with the sun and clouds. And then I used the term "j'ing off" in class, in front of my teacher. Neither the time, nor the place.

After class, a fellow student/friend asked me what I thought the next hipster trend would be. I thought about it for all of 2 seconds before answering, earnestness. Earnestness? asked Friend, what do you mean? I tried to explain how I think being earnest is really cool. It shows a sincere pride in what you do, but also that you don't take yourself too seriously. It illustrates a certain attachment to the world, a detachment from apathy. In other words, it's going to be all the rage (kind of like the Pride and Prejudice with ZOMBIES book, so freaking earnest).

My first example, George Michael. No, not the one who was caught j'ing off in the bathroom (ah... right time and place). The one who loves his cousin Maeby, and whose show got canceled but who kept showing up in movie screens as different versions of his television self. Or maybe it's Michael Cera. I can't really tell the difference and I don't want to. He's so earnest! As Friend so passionately said when I brought him up as my example, "I love him for that!"



This song has been on repeat in my head (and iPod, sorry roommates and neighbors) for a couple of weeks now. Then I found this and began watching it over and over.



Another lovely example of the trend is Queen Noor on The Colbert Report .

And finally, a video trailer made by the people at Harper Perennial (incidentally they will also be sponsoring our next Pomp party, read: giftbags!)



I can't help myself, I still love a good Smiths reference.

Any earnest role models that you have?

-Kastoory

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think Paul Rudd is incredibly earnest

Anonymous said...

and totally cute!

lauren said...

i'd like to think i'm earnest! aha.

and cera is omgzz so cute! ;-)

Anonymous said...

I'm scared that if being earnest become a trend, it will lost it's...earnestness.

I love that The Kinks are on here. Well done.

Anonymous said...

it's true i think the new hip earnestness will be underlied by a past of cynicism, and that in itself might make it less earnest.

Anonymous said...

gah i loved this post! (btw it's mou)
okay bye!

Anonymous said...

this makes me hopeful because i've been an earnest loser for most of my young adult life, and now you say it's all going to change

Anonymous said...

i have to agree with anon here, modern earnestness is underlied/belied by a past penchant for cynicism. it's just weird.

Anonymous said...

that harper video is amazing

Anonymous said...

all i have to say is this: norman mailer must be freaking out right now. hipsters should never ever be earnest.

Anonymous said...

what psycho made that george michael tribute video i want to know. thanks for bringing the crazies out youtube.

pro-ideas said...

i don't think so. self-respecting hipsters wouldn't be caught dead being earnest.

Anonymous said...

siiike?

Anonymous said...

Self respecting hipsters...

an oxymoron?

Anonymous said...

I thought all the hipsters had done themselves in

Anonymous said...

A
I
I
I
Ssssssike

*i wish

Sam J said...

The Pride & Prejudice & Zombies book looks GREAT! I might get it some day... :)