Merchants of Cool: 2016 Version

Ah, yes. The early 2000s. What a time to be alive. Of course, I was 1 or 2 years old, so it wasn't extremely the prime of my life. It was, however, a great time to document teenagers and the atrocious way of life they created.

But, who am I to judge? I wear Birkenstocks and have a passion for yoga and flannels. I tell myself I'm different from everyone and I'm unique "in my own way." Really though, how different am I compared to everyone else?? 

Merchants of Cool addressed the idea that there are those that desire to be on the outside, those that are cooler than the cool. They attempt to be their own brand, to be the fish out of water, but make it (in their view) awesome. Even though painting your face to show your devotion to a band is an extreme, this idea is extremely apparent even today.

We all are fully aware of what I (and many other people) call "hipster trash": flannel wearing, beard growing, Ray-Bans loving characters you can find at any bar downtown. They have somehow created this aura around them in which, well, everyone wants to be like them. Which brings up the question, if everyone wants to be like them, which culture is "cool" culture? Pop songs and flirty dresses? Or is cool culture the hipster path, which can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbZzfZQQuro 

If the new cool is hipster cool, is that going to disintegrate and become the cool that no one thinks is cool? And then, what will the "odd one out" type of cool become if the hipster cool is the boring cool? What even is cool??