The Tokyo-based cultural historian W. David Marx recently published a new book titled Blank Space: A Cultural History of the Twenty-First Century. In it, he argues that Western culture in the 21^st century has entered a season of stagnation- a “blank space” (catch the Taylor Swift reference?) crammed with reboots, fads, and the commodification of mainstream pop culture, but devoid of much genuine artistic creation. In an excerpt published in The Atlantic, Marx notes that 

Everyday life has never contained more stuff — an endless reel of words, ideas, games, songs, videos, memes, outrageous statements, celebrity meltdowns, life hacks, extremely talented animals. Yet audiences can sense what’s missing. For all the energy society invests in culture today, little has emerged that feels new, and certainly nothing revolutionary…

The forces of consumerism, tech, and market-driven commodification, Marx claims, all too often suffocate the social good of artistic creation. He notes that many of the movements that have gone on to shape popular culture have had their beginnings as small collectives seeking to cultivate something new. And Marx contends that “Throughout history, dedicated enclaves, such as the avant-garde artists of the early 20^th century and urban subcultures of the late 20^th century, have pursued innovation without the promise of immediate financial reward. Creating more of these communities and supporting them is crucial.”

Creating Culture

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