Hipsters pride themselves on being unique and authentic. Yet, they all look alike. Yikes! 😬
I recently heard Luke Burgis mention that in a podcast interview. We’ll circle back to him in a bit. His observation of the hipster subculture is interesting.
So, why do hipsters in their pursuit of uniqueness end up looking like each other?
Mimetic Theory
Enter Mimetic Theory, which suggests that cultures are created because people’s desires are based on other people’s desires.
Huh? Yeah, it took me a bit to process too.
It implies that our desires aren’t as autonomous as we like to believe. We borrow desires from others. We don’t desire anything without the provocation of another person.
This doesn’t necessarily mean others impose their desires upon us. They might be completely unaware we even exist. It means that on a deep level, you and I want what other people have. And on an even deeper level, it means we want to be like someone else. How we choose the people and desires we imitate can be complex.
That’s a hard pill to swallow. I’m on a quest to decipher authenticity so that it’s learnable. The last thing I want to hear is how we want to be like someone else!
René Girard and a Couple of Resources
Mimetic Theory was developed by French Historian and Polymath, René Girard. He believed that conflict between people isn’t caused by their differences, it’s caused by their sameness — specifically their desire for the same things. It’s by this theory which he explains natural rivalries within families, companies, politics, sports, etc.
I don’t know enough about Mimetic Theory to form a strong opinion about it. I thought I’d still share it with you since I find it intriguing.Â
Here are two podcast interviews that give a good rundown of it:
I also bought a copy of the new book, Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life, written by Luke Burgis — he’s the guy in the podcast interviews.
I’ll have more to say about Mimetic Theory after I read the book.
In the meantime, tell me about your initial thoughts. Have you ever heard of it?
– Luis
PS – I spent a good chunk of last week writing the lessons for my new goal-setting course. Next week, I’ll share specifics with you. Stay tuned.