If you find yourself, dear reader, reclining within the darkened solace of your living room, be not afraid of the vegan feminist bicycle rider inside your television set. You have merely stumbled upon “Portlandia,” IFC’s new sketch-comedy brainchild, which made its television debut in January 2011.
Created, written by, and starring SNL cast member Fred Armisen, the program pokes fun at Portland, Oregon’s hipster (yuppie) culture. It has been received as both endearing and disrespectful.Featuring Portland local Carrie Brownstein, former member of Sleater-Kinney, as Armisen’s co-star, the duo make for a shamelessly entertaining twosome, oftentimes adopting gender-bending roles.
There is much irony to be found here. The demographic that the show represents is not vast; most characters easily fall under the “DIY-crust-punk” stigma, or something of that nature.
It is frightening to look at one’s sacred hipster culture in retrospect—you may believe that you are oh-so-very unique and progressive, but when everyone around you is exactly the same as you, you realize that you are merely a follower. The tragedy is that there are very few leaders in society; it is truly an audacious action to attempt to alter the current fads. But it has been done before, and it will be done again. In fact, it is happening as I write this. A select few of the sad, unoriginal hipster souls will (doubtingly) bring upon a revolution—right after they’re done polishing their oxfords and ironing their cardigans.
The paradox being that many of these individuals boast themselves to be anti-television, thus, they are unable to even watch IFC’s slapstick comedy. But Tom with the fixed-gear bike and the good weed told them the show is “corporate bullshit” anyway.
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