Generations through generations, music has shown to be one of the strongest most influential things that have shaped youth culture throughout the decades.
When thinking of some of the more prominently known time periods like the ’70s or ’90s, it’s important to acknowledge the way the media has now presented, romanticized and capitalized off of essentially every time period that is not now.
Historically sub-genres of style and music have often shown to have been birthed from the adversities faced at the time, Whether its punk or goth, the stance on rebellion through physical presentation has always gone hand In hand with the music that a time period reflects.But how has the internet changed the way adolescents view themselves as a whole? How has Gen Z created an identity for themselves?
Growing up in the age of the internet, a period we are most likely never to leave has made everything easily accessible with the click of a button. Now, it’s up to debate whether or not that power has been put to positive use, But the idea of the Internet being the most influential thing to happen to this generation is without a doubt. We are constantly consuming all forms of media, So the decade-long trend cycle that has essentially immortalized past generations has been broken. It is through this rapid consumption of all forms of media that the personal identities each subculture is supposed to invoke has become lost within what is considered trendy. For example in the last two years the app TikTok has produced hundreds of niche micro trends that are forgotten or viewed as corny within months of it first emerging. One of the more known cash grabbing projects is Heavn by Marc Jacobs. Though the close lack in quality, the marketing does not.