Welcome to the 202nd insertion of DEMUR®, an analytical series highlighting the intricacies of the artistic world and the minutiae lying within. In this episode, we fire up the VHS player, going back in time to discover ‘nostalgia’ as today’s hottest trend, explaining why we’re so obsessed with the past and its relationship with contemporary arts.
With the resurgence of vintage clothing, over-ear headphones and leg warmers, it’s no secret the past is in style. From the music we listen to to the movies we watch, nostalgia is dominating our current cultural scene - and it's selling out. As youth flock towards the fads that were once plagued as a “never again” phase, somehow we’ve circled back to the designs we claimed to have sworn against. Now embraced by the neigh-sayers, outdated tech is skyrocketing in value alongside your dad’s old band tees, but what’s the appeal?
Nostalgia roots in the cyclical pattern of trends, which typically abide by a so-called ‘20 year rule’. Every aesthetic and niche, no matter the medium, take about two decades to be generally accepted in its newest form. Leveraged as a key indicator for trend forecasters, particularly in the fashion circuit, this rule has been increasingly accurate throughout the 2000s but is facing a rude awakening in light of contemporary ideals.
It seems the industry has hit a plateau after squeezing every ounce of originality from the emo, punk, indie, minimal and maximalist movements (among others). Seeking non-existent, untapped niches, it appears as if cultural interests have swayed towards the past as a whole. Opposing traditional era-centric periods, perhaps consumers are looking toward anything with an ounce of genuine relatability, as they grow tired of emotionless production.
Explaining why we’ve seen a spike in demand for camcorders, bell bottoms and retro furniture, it's become apparent that we simply cannot define ourselves in one specific phase. The culprit behind this shift can be accredited to overconsumption and attention span, calling for a decrease in micro-trends, among the pillaging of sub-cultures and alternative scenes. We seek the past as we’re sick of the present.
Comentarios