Interesting debate. I see it both ways...

Kids now have access to more 'stuff' than ever before. In real terms, the cost of toys, gadgets and experiences is lower than ever before with greater choice. Every time I go to a Target (slightly nicer WalMart) here in the US I can't get over the sheer range of THINGS in the kids' section.

Then there is tech. The processing power inside my kid's phones and gaming consoles would have blown my 8 year-old 8-bit mind.

But in terms of culture, I think it's a relatively bland era for kids compared to the 80's/90's. Endless Marvel and Star Wars films. Animation studios churning out the same lame sequels and spinoffs over-and-over. When was the last time you saw something truly original produced for under 18's in the movie theater?

If you are interested, the cultural theorist Mark Fisher argued that we are experiencing The Slow Cancellation of the Future - that we are trapped cultural stasis from which no new significant artistic movements or developments can emerge.
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(He's dead now, so his future really has been cancelled - but he's an interesting dude)

Kids today are generally consuming the same type of stuff that we did, right?

Posted By: atlcanary, Jul 15, 19:23:26