Keep Austin Weird

Keep Austin Weird is an unofficial slogan of Austin, Texas, United States, coined by Red Wassenich in 2000 while giving a pledge to "The Lounge Show", an eclectic program on KOOP Radio.[1][2] The original intent of the slogan was to highlight the "unserious" and "unmaterialistic" nature of Austin, which he saw as distinguishing features from other cities.[3] He began printing bumper stickers in July 2000 and operated the website keepaustinweird.com until his death in 2020[4] and published Keep Austin Weird: A Guide to the Odd Side of Town.[5]

The slogan was later adopted by the Austin Independent Business Alliance to promote local small businesses.

Despite a challenge from Wassenich, the slogan was later trademarked by Outhouse Designs and used to market T-shirts, hats, and mugs.[6][7][8] Other cities have since mimicked the nickname, including Portland in 2003, Louisville in 2005,[9] and Indianapolis in 2013.[10]

A 2010 book on the topic, Weird City: Sense of Place and Creative Resistance in Austin, Texas,[11] discusses the cultural evolution of the "Keep Austin Weird" movement as well as its commercialization and socio-political significance.[12][13] The origins of Austin's unique culture have been claimed to be the product of unusually cheap housing prices following the end of a housing boom in the 1980s, combined with the location of the University of Texas at Austin in the city.[14]

See also

  • Keep Portland Weird
  • Keep Louisville Weird

References

  1. ^ "What's the origin behind the 'Keep Austin Weird' slogan?". KXAN Austin. 2023-05-01. Retrieved 2023-12-25.
  2. ^ Yonan, Joe (March 27, 2011). "Can Austin stay weird? It was originated in Oregon in 1983 and later adopted by". Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 4, 2013.
  3. ^ "Red Wassenich Papers An Inventory of the Collection". Texas Archival Resources Online. Retrieved 1 April 2026.
  4. ^ Yardley, Jim (December 8, 2002). "Austin Journal; A Slogan Battle Keeps Austin Weird". The New York Times.
  5. ^ Wassenich, Red (2007). Keep Austin Weird: A Guide to the Odd Side of Town. Schiffer Books. ISBN 978-0764326394. The slogan was used
  6. ^ D'Annuzio, Francesca (March 6, 2020). "Austin Journal; "Keep Austin Weird" Originator Remembered for Choosing Community Over Capital". The Austin Chronicle.
  7. ^ Kanter, Alexis (September 9, 2004). "Keep Austin Weird?". The Daily Texan. Archived from the original on March 8, 2005. Retrieved March 16, 2006.
  8. ^ Ross, Warren R. (August 15, 2005). "Structures of justice". UU World. XIX (3): 1. Retrieved September 11, 2007.
  9. ^ Sheldon S. Shafer (16 Feb 2015). "Group to celebrate Keeping Louisville Weird". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
  10. ^ Anthony, Cara (October 13, 2014). "'The Keep' movement catches on in Indy". IndyStar. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
  11. ^ Long, Joshua (2010). Weird City: Sense of Place and Creative Resistance in Austin, Texas. University of Texas Press.
  12. ^ Kelso, John (May 6, 2010). "It's Weird Social Science: Thesis on Austin now a book". Austin American Statesman. Archived from the original on May 11, 2010. Retrieved June 11, 2010.
  13. ^ Dunbar, Wells (June 4, 2010). "Viva la Resistance". Austin Chronicle.
  14. ^ Yglesias, Matthew (2018-09-28). "Austin can't stay weird". Vox. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  15. ^ "HOPE Outdoor Gallery - HOPE". Archived from the original on 2017-07-08. Retrieved 2017-07-04.

Further reading

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