Mipsterz

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Mipsterz, stylized as #MIPSTERZ (short for Muslim Hipsters [1] ), are an international group of primarily hipster Muslims (loosely defined, and not limited to Millennials) who have evolving views on religion, identity, community, politics, and culture. [2] [3] [4] [5] Prior to 2012, the term "#MIPSTERZ" did not exist, though the application of "Muslim Hipsters" had been used. [6] Abbas Rattani is credited as the creator of the formal #MIPSTERZ movement, culture, community, and identity [7] [8] [9] [10] Other known #MIPSTERZ include tech entrepreneur Layla Shaikley, author & artist Sara Alfageeh, [11] [12] Riz Ahmed, Ibtihaj Muhmmad, Hasan Minhaj, Linda Sarsour, Reza Aslan, Amina Wadud, Omid Safi, Rabia of Basra, and Jalal al-din Rumi.

Mipsterz have been self-described on their Google Groups community page as:

"The 'Mipsterz' first began as a satirical, thought-generating jab at corporate culture and evolved into a limitless collective that empowers individuals to find coolness in themselves and share their God-given gifts with all. You see, hipster rule number 1: never self-identify as a hipster—namely, because these labels are a social constructed means of typecasting limitless beings. But let’s be honest, (and this is where the tongue-in-cheek ethos of Mipsterz enters), you are a hipster." [13]

The group has published various videos, including a controversial music video for Jay-Z's "Somewhere in America," [14] [15] [16] [17] as well as original programming [18] such as Hot Sauce x White Sauce, [19] the concert series SUNDAYS/cool, [20] [21] an online magazine: The Field Between, [22] and the fashion-activism project BOY/BYE. [23] [24] [25]

As of 2017, the group currently functions as a non-profit arts and culture collective with a focus on presenting and producing original content by Muslim creatives in the domains of film, music, and illustration. [1] A marketplace was opened in early 2018 which features their work. [26]

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References

  1. 1 2 MIPSTERZ
  2. Johns A, Rattani A. “Somewhere in America”: The #MIPSTERZ Digital Community and Muslim Youth Voice Online. In Negotiating Digital Citizenship: Control, Contest and Culture. Eds. Edited by Anthony McCosker, Sonja Vivienne, and Amelia Johns. Rowman & Littlefield International; 2016.
  3. Cunningham, Erin (15 January 2014). "Meet the Mipsterz". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  4. Gandhi, Lakshmi (16 June 2015). "Meet the Mipsterz, young Muslim artists who like to hang out and create". Metro News New York. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  5. Assefa, Haimy (3 June 2015). "Mipsterz: a space for Muslim hipsters". CNN. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  6. "Reza Aslan: the Muslim Hipster" . Retrieved 2017-10-25.
  7. "米国の若きムスリムから目が離せない。親世代から一転、彼らが見つけた「ミップスター」という生き方". HEAPSMAG (in Japanese). 2016-08-26. Retrieved 2017-10-25.
  8. Assefa, Haimy. "Mipsterz, a space for Muslim hipsters". CNN. Retrieved 2017-10-25.
  9. Rupp, Jacqueline. "Meet the Mipsterz: Millennial Muslims of Philadelphia". PhiladelphiaWeekly.com. Retrieved 2017-10-25.
  10. ""I consider myself a mipster": How Muslim hipsters are forging their own identity". Salon. 2015-03-06. Retrieved 2017-10-25.
  11. Shaikley, Layla. "The Surprising Lessons of the 'Muslim Hipsters' Backlash". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2017-10-25.
  12. Cunningham, Erin (2014-01-15). "Meet the Mipsterz". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 2017-10-25.
  13. Google Group, Mipsterz. "Mipsterz Google Group". groups.google.com. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  14. Video on Vimeo
  15. Hafiz, Yasmine (2 December 2013). "'Mipsterz' 'Somewhere In America' Video Showcases Muslim Hipster Swag; Sparks A Passionate Discussion". Huffington Post. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  16. Coleman, Christina (3 December 2013). "Can There Be Hipster Muslims? Mipsterz "Somewhere In America" Video Sparks Controversy". GlobalGrind. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  17. Ghani, Amarra (28 December 2013). "Muslim 'Hipsters' Turn A Joke Into A Serious Conversation". NPR. Retrieved 8 September 2015 via www.npr.org.
  18. Mipsterz' channel on YouTube
  19. Hot Sauce x White Sauce on YouTube
  20. "Meet the Mipsterz, young Muslim artists who like to hang out and create". Metro US. 2015-06-16. Retrieved 2017-10-25.
  21. SUNDAYS/cool on YouTube
  22. "The Field Between | Culture & Commentary Magazine". The Field Between | Culture & Commentary Magazine. Retrieved 2017-10-25.
  23. "There's a campaign changing the future of women's representation, and we spoke to the badass mastermind leading the charge". The Tempest. 2017-08-31. Retrieved 2017-10-25.
  24. "BOY/BYE : Celebrating Unapologetic Individual Identity | Amaliah" . Retrieved 2017-10-25.
  25. "The 'BOY/BYE' Project". Kickstarter. Retrieved 2017-10-25.
  26. "Third Culture | Mipsterz Marketplace | Mipsterz - Muslim Hipsters". Mipsterz Marketplace. Retrieved 2019-05-15.