If you are reading this, you likely grew up in an era in which irony was the primary way of engaging with the world. Not only did it have to do with goods, but was (and continues to be) pervasive in interpersonal relations. Asserting one’s individuality and refusing group labels on principle is not unique to hipsters but can be seen in dozens of... See more

In the end, the irony of meta-cringe lies in our generation's consistent demand for community and social integration during a period dominated by loneliness. Yet we continue to dismiss any signs, symbols, or spaces that could potentially foster this sense of connection as overdone and passé. The tension between wanting to be an individual and... See more

In this case, not to an elite or exclusive social group, but instead, a sense of belonging to a specific time and place: the here and now in London during the year 2024. And if we consistently mock, poke and prod at this, we starve ourselves of the childlike joy of simply enjoying culture, and by extension communality.