the 2000s - a decade without an identity?

[freepcrusher]

It seems all the decades in the postwar age have some sort of identity (which are often half truths but iconic nonetheless):

1950s had the image of drive-in movies, sock hops, car hops, and Elvis
1960s had the image of something like Gilligans Island or Gunsmoke
1970s had the image of the me decade and general cynicism/apathy
1980s was the image of neiman marcus, multicolored sweaters, synth music
1990s (as i recently said) was the era of kind of a Grunge/Alternative pop culture

with the 2000s in the rearview, what is its image?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Oh don't worry. I'm sure that the Nostalgia Industry will crank out some nonsense suitable for morons and the inevitable I Love The 2000s!!!!!111 programmes that such morons will inevitably watch. I mean, they even managed it with the 1990s for God's sake.

[Leftbehind]

Technology, internet users, 'emo'?

[freepcrusher]

well a positive would be the advent of technology
negatives would be stuff like the glorification of tacky behavior (various reality tv shows), the glorification of talentless artists (like Jay-Z) and people using "textspeak" in real life.

[Tetro Kornbluth]

Oh don't worry. I'm sure that the Nostalgia Industry will crank out some nonsense suitable for morons and the inevitable I Love The 2000s!!!!!111 programmes that such morons will inevitably watch. I mean, they even managed it with the 1990s for God's sake.

I think I've said this here before but if I haven't I will say it anyway - One of my great fears is that my grandchildren will grow up watching "I remember loving 'I love the 70s'" and similar ilk on whatever they have instead of televisions whenever it will be that they are around.

[Grumpier Than Thou]

I would be so proud if emos were remembered as a top thing about the 2000s.

[morgieb]

This feels like a Naso post, lol.

[Leftbehind]

I would be so proud if emos were remembered as a top thing about the 2000s.

Persecuted peoples!

[Grumpier Than Thou]

I would be so proud if emos were remembered as a top thing about the 2000s.

Persecuted peoples!

We've gotten like...5 South Park episodes. That's our claim to fame, at least in the 2010s.

[Leftbehind]

Christ, that's an unfair portrayal.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

"Ooh, we as a decade gotta have an identity. How will people see us? This is important. Identity matters!"

[Frodo]

Of course the decade has an identity -see Bush, George W., War on Terrorism (marked by a drastic reduction of our civil liberties), and the Iraq War (including the subsequent insurgency).

The collapse of the World Trade Center towers on 9/11, and Guantanamo Bay internment camp should provide the visuals you need to encapsulate the decade.   

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

I would be so proud if emos were remembered as a top thing about the 2000s.

Persecuted peoples!

We've gotten like...5 South Park episodes. That's our claim to fame, at least in the 2010s.

You aren't a fan of actual emo.

[Napoleon]

lol

[dead0man]

No identity? That's a strong claim, and one that I don't think you can justify.

I like the current decade better so far, but for better or for worse, the 2000s spawned plenty of memorable sounds, and images.

I recognized exactly three of those.  FTR, Eminem, Outkast and I'm 98% sure that's Katy Pery(sp?) second from the bottom.  I'm guessing one of the brothers is Kanye...maybe Usher?...oh, the dead one!


on preview I decided to see how close I was.  Not very.  Nickleback?  Really?  I guess I should have known Gaga.

[Grumpier Than Thou]

I would be so proud if emos were remembered as a top thing about the 2000s.

Persecuted peoples!

We've gotten like...5 South Park episodes. That's our claim to fame, at least in the 2010s.

You aren't a fan of actual emo.

Your elitism is charming. Does it work as well on females?

Of course the decade has an identity -see Bush, George W., War on Terrorism (marked by a drastic reduction of our civil liberties), and the Iraq War (including the subsequent insurgency).

The collapse of the World Trade Center towers on 9/11, and Guantanamo Bay internment camp should provide the visuals you need to encapsulate the decade.   

Great. Let's be the decade of war and fear-mongering. Awesome.

[LastVoter]

"Ooh, we as a decade gotta have an identity. How will people see us? This is important. Identity matters!"

[rejectamenta]

2007-2009 was a great time for obliterating deathcore fans before they all started listening to dubstep or Kanye West or w/e

[Frodo]

Of course the decade has an identity -see Bush, George W., War on Terrorism (marked by a drastic reduction of our civil liberties), and the Iraq War (including the subsequent insurgency).

The collapse of the World Trade Center towers on 9/11, and Guantanamo Bay internment camp should provide the visuals you need to encapsulate the decade.  

Great. Let's be the decade of war and fear-mongering. Awesome.

It pretty much was.  Like it or not, that's how people are going to remember this past decade. 

[President Tyrion]

people using "textspeak" in real life.

"Textspeak" in general was the aughts, but using textspeak in real life is more a 10's thing.

Image of the 2000's? Here are some images that come to mind.

suspicious number of homeruns being hit - That's the 90's
huge oil profits - Not unique
high gas prices - Not unique at all
texting - Texting could be argued more as the communication method of this decade. Email is the one I would go for.
cell phones - Yeah, sounds right.
long lines at the airport - Not unique
Bush landing on the aircraft carrier - WTF not relevant
obsession with homosexuality - lol
songs featuring guest artists - That's actually a fair enough point
Ipods - Yes
reality TV shows - I suppose.
popularity of the NFL - Not unique

My comments in bold.

[Maxwell]

well a positive would be the advent of technology
negatives would be stuff like the glorification of tacky behavior (various reality tv shows), the glorification of talentless artists (like Jay-Z) and people using "textspeak" in real life.

lol

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

It has nothing to do with elitism. Emo is a style of music that started in the mid-80s, long before the 00s, and never had anything to do with kids with stupid haircuts or eyeliner.

[WalterMitty]

well the bush years were mostly prosperous.

[Indy Texas]

Considering how much of the 2000s seemed to be about more or less pretending it was the '80s, it probably doesn't deserve an identity.

If the 2000s were a car, it would be a bright yellow Hummer H2 with a Support Our Troops sticker on the back and a trunk full of designer clothes that, like the car, were paid for with a home equity line of credit on a house you haven't made a single payment on.

[Keystone Phil]

well the bush years were mostly prosperous.

Walter is correct. Generations will look back on that time as a season prosperity thanks to President Bush. A modern day "Era of good feelings," if you will, especially when you review today's Bad Times in contrast.