Hipsters Are the Shock Troops of Gentrification.

You say that like it's a bad thing.

UPDATE: Speaking of hipsters....

When Art Attacks

From Peter Schjeldahl's latest review in The New Yorker, concerning the artistic atmosphere of the '60s:

Blatant narcissism was in the air, too, but it was typically inflected with self-abasement, particularly in stunts performed soon afterward by Vito Acconci (who bit himself anywhere he could and photographed the tooth marks) and Chris Burden (who had himself shot).

Well! All I can say is, an ear just won't cut it anymore.