Defining the “2020s”

[Silvermoth]

I was watching a documentary about Andy Warhol last night and he said it takes a few years for a decade to define itself so it got me thinking, what do you think defines the 2020s?

I think it’s definitely the era of anxiety, where people are very anxious about everything. Also the era of people thinking about the planet in a way they haven’t in the past.

Films
Dune
The end of marvel / superhero dominance in film (or maybe not?)
A24 films like The Lighthouse and Midsommer

Fashion
Mullets on men

Music
Chappel roan
Britney’s comeback

 

[squeekness]

I would agree with anxiety. I've never been this fearful about the end of democracy before Trump and MAGA.

 

[ComicChick]

artificial intelligence is definitely going to be something discussed from this decade. as well as the pandemic

 

[Lily Adler]

I was watching a documentary about Andy Warhol last night and he said it takes a few years for a decade to define itself so it got me thinking, what do you think defines the 2020s?

I think it’s definitely the era of anxiety, where people are very anxious about everything. Also the era of people thinking about the planet in a way they haven’t in the past.

Films
Dune
The end of marvel / superhero dominance in film (or maybe not?)
A24 films like The Lighthouse and Midsommer

Fashion
Mullets on men

Music
Chappel roan
Britney’s comeback

Isn't Midsomer a 2010's film?

Britney had a comeback? I would say Dua Lipa and Taylor Swift being able to influence the Super Bowl.

 

[Cap2024]

Isn't Midsomer a 2010's film?

Britney had a comeback? I would say Dua Lipa and Taylor Swift being able to influence the Super Bowl.

2019, so yeah.

Plus Lighthouse was a rather limited indie film in terms of audience reach rather than one that general audiences gravitated to. Great film, yes. Defining the era? Not close for mass audiences.

Those films thus far (by order of release) :

The Batman (the whole new take on it)
Top Gun: Maverick
Avatar: The Way Of Water
Barbie
Oppenheimer
Dune

These films thematically actually in a way have more in common than not.

For those questioning, “why is The Batman there?” True, it isn’t one of the highest earning films of the year - it is very reflective of the times: an incel Riddler that has a cult following online sets out to attack those he deems “the elite” on a political stage. That, plus the film released relatively soon after the Capitol attack.

It’s an age of anxiety and an age when the social norms of the past are being challenged in new ways. Whether it’s admitting Batman is part of the 1%, Barbie’s feminist message resonating on a grand scale, or awesomely representation in media increasing.

Film wise it is also the age of asking ‘What If?’ whether it’s the country entering a ‘Civil War’ or venturing ‘In The Multiverse Of Madness’ whether that means ‘No Way Home’ or ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once.’ Basically everything is exploring the multiverse these days even on TV, ‘Dark Matter.’

 

[psylockolussus]

-Covid pandemic
-AI
-Taylor Swift
-Streaming apps explosion from the big studios
-The war happening in Ukraine and Palestine
-Lots of price hikes

In music, I've already mentioned Taylor Swift but her popularity is beyond music,she's also a big time celebrity. Chappell Roan isn't really popular, especially charts wise. There are plenty of bigger artists in the past five years. Britney hasn't released a new album since 2016. She's popular in the last few years for other reasons. Kpop definitely made an impact in this decade and I was glad I really dived into that world during the pandemic (June 2020).

In film, Barbie obviously. Spider-Man No Way Home was huge and it would end up as one of the highest grossing films of the decade. I hope Avengers 5 and 6 make a huge impact. As for indie films, I'm not sure A24 films really crossed over yet to the mainstream. Like I remember Midsommar but outside of the entertainment/film world, I'm not sure if they made an impact. At the box office, I'm interested how these streaming apps will affect the movie-going business. 2025 to 2029 is a long time and we are still halfway in 2024, so there are a lot of things that can happen.

In fashion, I feel like y2k has become popular and baggy jeans are back.

In video games, PS5 and the upcoming GTA VI. Maybe the new Switch/PS6 as well.

If NASA can send human beings to Mars before 2030,then that would be a decade-defining moment. I hope there won't be another pandemic and I really hope World War 3 doesn't happen anytime soon because things you see in the news are alarming.

Edit: and how can I forget TIKTOK! That app is still popular and I feel like it has no use for me anymore.

 

[Lily Adler]

Britney Spears retiring from music. The return of X-Men... Hopefully

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

Barbieheimer
The Kansas City Chiefs
Trump vs Biden
The Ukraine War
The Gaza Genocide
Climate Change/Extreme Weather
A.I. Goes Mainstream

 

[Lily Adler]

-Covid pandemic
-AI
-Taylor Swift
-Streaming apps explosion from the big studios
-The war happening in Ukraine and Palestine
-Lots of price hikes

In music, I've already mentioned Taylor Swift but her popularity is beyond music,she's also a big time celebrity. Chappell Roan isn't really popular, especially charts wise. There are plenty of bigger artists in the past five years. Britney hasn't released a new album since 2016. She's popular in the last few years for other reasons. Kpop definitely made an impact in this decade and I was glad I really dived into that world during the pandemic (June 2020).

In film, Barbie obviously. Spider-Man No Way Home was huge and it would end up as one of the highest grossing films of the decade. I hope Avengers 5 and 6 make a huge impact. As for indie films, I'm not sure A24 films really crossed over yet to the mainstream. Like I remember Midsommar but outside of the entertainment/film world, I'm not sure if they made an impact. At the box office, I'm interested how these streaming apps will affect the movie-going business. 2025 to 2029 is a long time and we are still halfway in 2024, so there are a lot of things that can happen.

In fashion, I feel like y2k has become popular and baggy jeans are back.

In video games, PS5 and the upcoming GTA VI. Maybe the new Switch/PS6 as well.

If NASA can send human beings to Mars before 2030,then that would be a decade-defining moment. I hope there won't be another pandemic and I really hope World War 3 doesn't happen anytime soon because things you see in the news are alarming.

Edit: and how can I forget TIKTOK! That app is still popular and I feel like it has no use for me anymore.

Yeah she shot down a comeback album earlier this year and said she wasn't returning to music. She wants to focus on herself and what makes her happy and a music career isn't what she wants at the moment.

 

[chamber-music]

Broccoli haircut
Populist politics
Return of baggy/loose fitting clothes
Trans rights (seem to be amongst the most talked about minority groups currently)
Continued decline of network television

 

[Babillygunn]

2020s are a pivotal time in history probably not unlike the 1960s.

In US society:

MAGA and other right-wing politics vs acceptance and inclusivity (think a more socially grounded flower child movement)

The fight of social justice versus the freedom to discriminate coming to a head as efforts to roll back the traction of the civil rights movement gain momentum amongst older generations.

The conscious effort of certain political persuasions to attack and limit access to education.

Obviously COVID is the paramount event of the decade and most historically significant thing that happened.

I would also say that the mainstream acceptance of conspiracy theories has been an odd cultural phenomenon that will define this decade. Hopefully it is a phase that society outgrows and my grandchildren will look back at this time in history and ask “how did people think that way?”

In entertainment:

Rise of streaming services and decline of cinema
The exceptions being big event films such as Top Gun Maverick, Barbie and Oppenheimer.

Comic book movie fatigue that put to rest the surge from mid 200’s through 2010s (until Superman comes out, which will join the ranks of Barbie and Oppenheimer)

Music will be defined by Taylor Swift and to a lesser extent, Kendrick Lamar.