ccccultura
Traditionally, nostalgia was private. It was tied to homesickness or personal memories, often tinged with loss. But in the 21st century, it’s become increasingly collective. Shared nostalgia – or “now-stalgia” – is generational and cultural. Think millennials reminiscing about indie sleaze. It spreads via memes, media and even political messaging.
Then there’s “new-stalgia” – a blend of personal, collective and what media theorist Alison Landsberg calls prosthetic memory: memories acquired not from lived experience but mass media. It’s nostalgia for things never personally lived – a phenomenon known as anemoia. Among Gen Z, for example, 35% feel nostalgic for the 1990s, despite being born in the 2000s.
Protein XYZ
Culture is no longer made. It is simply curated from existing culture, refined, and regurgitated back at us. The algorithms cut off the possibility of new discovery.
Culture is Stuck
Billboard's 2024 year-end analysis: 82% hit songs now use one of just four melodic structures that have previously proven most successful by the algorithm. Spotify's year-end data: the average similarity score between Top 100 tracks reached an all-time high.
Meh-ification, the plot thickens?
Beth Bentley
When I was younger, I admired trends without questioning their origins. Now, I see them as reflections of the Zeitgeist —whether influenced by environmental shifts, economic changes, or collective emotions.
Jordan • Stop Chasing Trends & Start Understanding Them
ArchiveSociety
Content is how brands influence culture, and content can make or break a brand. The way brands’ products are going to be discovered, shared, talked about and bought is more important than a product itself. Rhode, Hailey Bieber’s brand, does a great job of making its products discoverable, and not only because of her own celebrity. The lip phone cas... See more
The age of SUPERCONTENT
Internet Vibes
internetvibes.blogspot.com