There comes a point in any saturated system wherein meaning no longer accumulates. It combusts. Contemporary culture functions less like a cogent symbolic order and more like a refinery under pressure, endlessly processing images, aesthetics, affect, and identity into liquid form.
So much of contemporary culture takes shape online, and nobody understands this as acutely as Gen Z and Millenials. We came of age on the internet and were granted access, for better or for worse, to worlds far beyond the walls of our childhood bedrooms.
What is ‘Accidental Renaissance’? Well, you’ve probably seen these pictures popping up on your feed at some point.
It’s a phenomenon in which pictures taken by civilians without a second thought, and by the chance of faith, the elements aligned to create a picture of perfect balance of light, movement, and perspective in the picture, transcending a universal commentary on humanity.
This time last year, the world as we knew it came to a screeching halt. From theatre shows, concerts, and events, to sports competitions – the Coronavirus canceled, well, everything… As we became confined to our homes, social media and in particular TikTok became the channel through which we came to communicate.