“I love this song!” I shout over the howl of the wind as my best friend and I cruise down 14th Street. “Ugh, please take that back. You are such a basic srat girl right now. This song is so overrated! Everyone likes it,” she replies.
There it is again, I think to myself, simmering. It feels like months since I’ve made it through a day without hearing the word “basic” in some context or another — and I'm over it.
What, exactly, does “basic” mean? Urban Dictionary, the holiest of references, defines it as “any person, place, [or] activity involving obscenely obvious behavior, dress, action; unsophisticated.” Thank you, Urban Dictionary.
I suppose that’s simple enough. Another entry for “Basic Girl” defines the term as “your run of the mill white girl that has no identity of her own. She has no redeeming unique qualities. … Whatever is popular, she is into whether she likes it or not personally.”
It proves surprisingly problematic to pin down one concrete definition of “basic.” At least 10 other entries show up in Urban Dictionary alone. In essence, we can think of “basic” as denoting activities and people that go with the grain and enjoy only what is “popular” by elite, upper-class standards. I think this is bullshit.
Many of us may not realize the individualist ideology tossed around by movies, television programs and magazines in recent decades was not always the dominant position. This individualism, this focus on the ego rather than the communal, emerged in full force during the 1990s. Our generation was raised believing the only method of achieving worthiness was by being different from the pack.
“Different” became synonymous with “special” and “similar” akin to “forgettable.” You must stand out. You must be unique. You must secure every opportunity available to prove your exceptionality. Above all, you must not be too similar to the person next to you. Unfortunately, attitudes such as these often lead to the belittlement of anyone within arm’s reach.
My friend called me basic for liking a Top 40 radio hit. I was basic because I voiced a positive opinion on a song dubbed “popular” by a vast majority of young Americans. I genuinely don’t believe she meant to criticize my tastes, but I nevertheless felt attacked. Just because I’m not listening to indie house mixes 24/7 does not make my musical taste less legitimate.
Therein lies my main beef with basic: no taste is illegitimate. That’s precisely why it’s called “taste.” It is part of your personality; you call every shot. I may not own a pair of Bean boots or watch MTV, but I try my hardest not to criticize those who do. If watching a four-hour marathon of “Teen Mom” gives you a few hours’ relief from studying, more power to you.
No one should ever have to apologize for liking something or someone. Symbolic violence often hurts just as much as physical violence — attacking someone’s beliefs, including their tastes, can smart just as keenly as attacking their person.
Why do we attack those who like popular movies, clothes and music? It makes me ashamed to be part of this generation, this generation which is so ready to launch a few insults in the off chance they’ll wound competition in the great race to be the most unique or special.
Here I lay in my bedroom under a flowery, pink garland that hangs above my overhead light. I’m making my way steadily through Buzzfeed quizzes addressing what color my “aura” is and what major I should have pursued in college. Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off” plays on my laptop as I bemoan how I’ve picked the wrong major while a mouthful of gummy bears squishes inside my mouth. Does this make me basic?
By Urban Dictionary’s standards, I am a “basic girl.” I like Buzzfeed quizzes. I like Top 40 hits. I’m wearing workout clothes even though I didn’t get within five feet of any gym machinery today. Basically, I’m basic. Basically, I’m comfortable and enjoying myself. Basically, I don’t care if a random stranger doesn’t approve of my tastes or my actions or my appearance. Basically, “basic” is, to use the common vernacular, pretty darn basic.
Laura’s column runs biweekly Fridays. She can be reached at l.holshouser@cavalierdaily.com.
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