#kurtandersen

In Kurt Anderson’s, “You Say You Want A Devolution?” he states that popular style has been stuck on repeat the last twenty years. He makes a lot of really great points explaining how generations such has the 60’s to 70’s stand out far more than the 90’s to the 2000’s.  But I do have to disagree with him being born in the 80’s I could look at a photo from 92’ and 2012 and definitely distinguish the two.  

To start it off Anderson agrees that technology has made leaps since 1990. But he doesn’t take in to consideration that teenagers are growing up completely different than teenagers were in the 90s. Cell phones and social media have replaced a lot of what the norm use to be. Coming from the generation that was all about hand written letters and face-to-face interactions I do miss it. As does most of the population that was born before 90’s, so I can see why we do resemble such a nostalgic culture. A lot of things seemed better, more raw, and organic before the digital years. But ninety percent of teens these days own a cell phone, and their world heavily relying on technology, without knowing anything different.

Because of the rise of technology we do process more content daily than ever before. So I can see why a lot of people are overloaded and don’t have the capacity to make distinctive change. Being comfortable is what the media is constantly throwing at us. Sure the artist lifestyle is fantasized over, but the majority of Americans feel that urge to move to the suburbs, settle down, and have kids. Having a child myself and not fitting this mold I know how rare it is. But that’s not to say it’s not more accepted today than it ever has been, and I have found other young tribes I connect with on this level.

Staying up with the trends that have been completely monopolized. I think fashion over the last twenty years have bounced off past genres but to reinvent it and make it our own. I think this is where the remix culture comes in. But he is right that a majority of the population, aka middle class, tend to all shop at the same places like, Gap, Target, H&M, etc. I read in an article that President Obama only owns the same style suit just in multiples so he never has to exhaust his energy on what he is going to wear. A lot of Americans think this way or feel the incredible pressure to fit in with what is trending. I think the fashion industry has felt it the most. There use to be so many innovative clothing labels, who mass-market American companies like Zara and H&M use to rip off of.  In the last New York times I read about how Louie Vuitton is having a hard time staying in business trying to keep up with these mass-marketed companies, and really there is just no way they can. These companies are using the lowest quality materials, with the most unsustainable methods to create the cheapest product for the general public. So I do feel as if true fashion has become stagnant because small independent labels are being driven out of business by HUGE companies like Target were you could get the exact same look for a fraction of the cost.

I also agree and disagree with him on his thoughts that music is repeating itself. Music has always been influenced by culture and past generations. Because of sampling I do agree that a lot of Pop music in the last ten years does sound the same. But the musicians themselves are more unique and controversial than years before. I mean just look at Miley Cyrus; she’s a full-blown character. Sure her image may be superficially composed, but it still is new. Also there is no way you can compare Adele to Mariah Carey, I mean common, or Madonna to Gaga, they all have their own identity.