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Jack Kerouac frequently refers to "hipsters" in On the Road (see body for examples). Who were the hipsters of the late 40s/early 50s? What did they wear, read, eat, listen to, etc.? Was the term primarily understood ironically as it is today, or was it more of a neutral/positive term?

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Jack Kerouac frequently refers to "hipsters" in On the Road (see body for examples). Who were the hipsters of the late 40s/early 50s? What did they wear, read, eat, listen to, etc.? Was the term primarily understood ironically as it is today, or was it more of a neutral/positive term?	502