This has splintered popular culture. We no longer have five major celebrities; we have thousands of micro-celebrities. The "Watercooler Moment"—where everyone at the office watched the same broadcast last night—is dead. In its place are thousands of passionate, specific sub-communities on Discord and Reddit. Perhaps the best development in modern entertainment is the death of "highbrow vs. lowbrow."
So, keep streaming. Keep scrolling. Keep debating who would win in a fight between a Marvel hero and a Jedi.
Because of algorithmic feeds, your "For You" page looks nothing like your neighbor's. While you are deep into niche Japanese reality TV, your coworker is watching a lore video about a children's cartoon from the 80s. TrueAnal.20.10.21.Ashley.Lane.Loves.Anal.XXX.72...
We are living in the golden age of too much .
Just don't forget to look up at the real world every once in a while. The lighting isn't as good, but the plot is much more interesting. This has splintered popular culture
Thanks to the internet, we can unapologetically love everything . You can have a podcast about Dostoevsky in your queue and a podcast about The Bachelor right next to it. The judgment is gone. The only rule left is: Does it bring you joy? However, there is a fine line between fandom and tribalism.
Today, entertainment is a communal event, even when we are alone. We watch a tense episode of The Last of Us on the TV while scrolling X (formerly Twitter) on our phones to see the memes roll in live. We pause Succession to text a friend a reaction GIF. In its place are thousands of passionate, specific
Here is how popular media changed—and why you shouldn't feel guilty about being obsessed with it. Remember when watching a movie meant sitting in silence in a dark room? That feels ancient now.