It’s a stunning fact that 4 years on, there’s not a *single* cultural artifact—not a song, a novel, or even a movie—that legitimately captures the attitudes and experiences of 2020 in America. Argue with the values, but we got some really dope music out of the 60s! A sea TikToks with 0 enduring standouts.

Design and software at Apple. Also into AI, philosophy of mind, ethics.

Idk I think Bo Burnham’s Inside is up there

I write about tech + humans + philosophy. Farcaster OG. FID 3305 founder of /theindex 

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I was agreeing with Sam til I read this… That album is genius and does capture that moment.

building /bracket | talking /greatbooks | ex-BCG, ex-PHD | poli + phil + econ

fair enough, I still think the larger point stands that there’s no (or let’s say scant) larger zeitgeisty legitimizing aesthetic to that cultural moment. again I think of the 60s and 80s. maybe that shows the moment’s illegitimacy or moral bankruptcy?

I think it just shows the mundanity of the moment. It's hard to write a rousing song about being stuck in doors and for the most part people who were dealing with covid didn't want to make or consume art about it. But that's not without precedent; how many vital cultural artefacts do we have about the Spanish flu?