Now, are these types of discussion anything new? Of course not, people have talked about the past since there could be one, and these modern tools are used for much more than just looking back. What I wonder is if the massive increase of scale from a smoky basement where one discuss art with friends to a "location" populated by billions - in a span of 20-30 years mind you - has left us suddenly aware of how we all relate to each other. The actual technology we use is moving forward, but so much of it opens the ability for this type of past-focused communication to increase.
The only reason I even attempt to draw out cause & effect is simply a matter of me recently thinking of three things at the same time. Art, (mostly referring to music, film and dance as I am more in tune with those mediums) the current state of it, and how that differs from the past state of it. I don't know if any of this actually is true, but it's a thought. All I know is that I rarely feel like I'm having new experiences, but instead being subjected to rehashed ideas. Artists like Animal Collective and Tv on the Radio work to prove this feeling as near-sighted/unfounded, and maybe there really aren't that many 'Revolutionists' during any one time. Possibly I'm only glamorizing the history of life before my time.
But all I can see when I look back is the "golden age" of film in the 30's and 40's, the creation of modern dance in the early part of the 20th century/late 19th century, total post modern overhaul in the 60's, and the rise of rock and roll 40's-60's/70's. What is our claim to fame? What are we as a generation doing - not simply to make a name for ourselves, but to live lives worthy of being given a name? I'm not saying our art is less than that of the past century, but more that the art which I see feels more like an echo than the origination of an idea.
But maybe the culprit - if there even is one - lies in the last sentence of my first paragraph: "Our technology is moving forward." I wonder if our generation is that of technology. Our geniuses are creating Google and Twitter, instead of being inspired to make the next Sergeant Pepper's. These technologies are the pieces of human creation that seem to be defining our generation. Not the music (insert other art form) or film content of our society. Maybe our generation is not those medium's time. Maybe ours is a time to focus on how we live our everyday lives in new ways via technology, and not how we talk about it, or what we choose to enjoy on an artistic level (Disclaimer: This is not to say that art does not affect how we live our lives).
But if that's true, that technology has taken the forefront and as a whole, art (both mainstream and more underground/less mainstream) is in a weird place. What do we do during this time as artists? Do we simply continue on with our work and wait for someone to come and take us into the forefront again? Do we even care? Should we just live our lives and let the tide of history take us where it may?
Speaking of art that is pushing forward, I'll let my ol' friend try and answer that question.
"No more talk about the old days; it's time for something great." - Thom Yorke
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