Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Joseph Gordon-Levitt Defines "Hipster" For Us All
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jan 27, 2012
Modified Jan 27, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jan 27, 2012
Modified Jan 27, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
If you look up "hipster" in the dictionary, you will not see any of this.
Last time we checked in on Joseph Gordon-Levitt he was Occupying Wall Street and singing a tune with Zooey Deschanel—and now the multitalented actor has kindly requested that you no longer call him a "hipster," please. Which we're cool with, because then he goes a step beyond and actually defines the word "hipster" for us all. Someone that no one has been able to pinpoint since the first bearded man in Williamsburg was spotted with a PBR in his hand. Someone telegram this to the OED, post haste:
Hipster
[hip-ster] noun, slang
- Someone who kind of dresses up like an artist but they don't actually make anything.
He added, "So all you people calling me a hipster can go fuck yourselves cause I'm makin' shit all the goddam time. People are like, 'You wear skinny jeans' but these are 501s man."
Tagged
defined
definition
hipster
jgl
Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
The Knicks are NBA champions. Now they have to start dressing the part.
Before they attempt to fend off LeBron James and the 76ers on Tuesday, the Knicks will have a chance to show off their winning mentality through their tunnel fits.
By
Sonia Rao
Published Oct 19, 2026
Will Barnes and Noble in the East Village spell doom for smaller shops? It's complicated.
Independent booksellers are grappling with whether the big-box chain is a threat or an ally in the fight against Amazon.
By
Sonia Rao
Arts & Entertainment
Will Barnes and Noble in the East Village spell doom for smaller shops? It's complicated.
Independent booksellers are grappling with whether the big-box chain is a threat or an ally in the fight against Amazon.
By
Sonia Rao
Can eligible NYC singles find love with 30 minutes and some really spicy food?
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
How the NYC Marathon has changed in the last 50 years
By
Hannah Frishberg
A visit to Art of Play, the Brooklyn store in an animatronic bird beef with Kelly Clarkson
By
Sonia Rao
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .