CultureJuly 23, 2026

scenesters

/ˈsiːnˌstərz/

Definition

People who are actively and deeply involved in a particular social, artistic, or cultural subculture, often characterized by a shared interest in trends, music, or lifestyle aesthetics.

Etymology

The word is a 20th-century American English coinage, formed by combining 'scene'—referring to a specific social sphere—with the suffix '-ster', which denotes a person associated with a particular activity.

In the news

The term is used here to describe the close-knit group of journalists and musicians who bonded over a weekly poker game. It highlights their status as insiders within the vibrant local culture of their time.

Remembering Mike Shea, the Writer and Musician Who Helped Make SXSW Happen

Read the full article ↗

Texas Monthly

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