I think I’m agreeing with you when I say that I’ve lived through quite a few of these cycles already, and I find that the apologists for the new always overrate the current landscape, while the bellyachers always miss what is interesting and vital about the current landscape.
Even though I’m most excited about older culture, a lot of my f…
I think I’m agreeing with you when I say that I’ve lived through quite a few of these cycles already, and I find that the apologists for the new always overrate the current landscape, while the bellyachers always miss what is interesting and vital about the current landscape.
Even though I’m most excited about older culture, a lot of my favorite stuff is stuff that many people my age hated when it came out. I mean, I prefer music from the 1920’s but I’m also fascinated by Aphex Twin. (Not the most contemporary reference but I really like Aphex Twin.) And over in the world of “avant garde” music that most people having this debate from either side don’t know about, there’s a real renaissance going on. Also— a lot of people yelling at clouds don’t know shit about, say, the films they’re making in other countries.
I’ve been dismissive of current culture since I was a teen in the 80s, but there’s been interesting stuff happening in every era. Usually it took me a while to recognize this. And I recall reading McLuhan books from before my teen years that had made the same kind of point you’re making even earlier, back in the 60s.
This piece is a good example of why I subscribe; reading you is a good way to keep my cultural prejudices in check.
I am a book and movie lover (I usually make it to the theatre at least twice a month), but some of the most interesting and deeply creative works I have seen over the last few years have been short form and created for YouTube. I get more excited about new Brian David Gilbert works now than I do about new stuff from most established film directors. (I have also been terminally online since 1993, FWIW. Still not a huge fan of TikTok outside of B. Dylan Hollis, though.)
I think I’m agreeing with you when I say that I’ve lived through quite a few of these cycles already, and I find that the apologists for the new always overrate the current landscape, while the bellyachers always miss what is interesting and vital about the current landscape.
Even though I’m most excited about older culture, a lot of my favorite stuff is stuff that many people my age hated when it came out. I mean, I prefer music from the 1920’s but I’m also fascinated by Aphex Twin. (Not the most contemporary reference but I really like Aphex Twin.) And over in the world of “avant garde” music that most people having this debate from either side don’t know about, there’s a real renaissance going on. Also— a lot of people yelling at clouds don’t know shit about, say, the films they’re making in other countries.
I’ve been dismissive of current culture since I was a teen in the 80s, but there’s been interesting stuff happening in every era. Usually it took me a while to recognize this. And I recall reading McLuhan books from before my teen years that had made the same kind of point you’re making even earlier, back in the 60s.
This piece is a good example of why I subscribe; reading you is a good way to keep my cultural prejudices in check.
I am a book and movie lover (I usually make it to the theatre at least twice a month), but some of the most interesting and deeply creative works I have seen over the last few years have been short form and created for YouTube. I get more excited about new Brian David Gilbert works now than I do about new stuff from most established film directors. (I have also been terminally online since 1993, FWIW. Still not a huge fan of TikTok outside of B. Dylan Hollis, though.)