Decoder Ring Is Culture Stuck?
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Jan 28, 2026 
W. David Marks, author and culture critic behind Blank Space, argues the 21st century shows a gap in cultural innovation. He contrasts rapid 20th-century shifts with slower modern change. He uses examples from the Beatles to Taylor Swift, debates the internet and TikTok’s role, and outlines how small scenes can reignite inventive culture.
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Old Songs Becoming New Through Ads
- Willa Paskin recounts her 10-year-old daughter spontaneously singing Kelis' "Milkshake" after seeing it in a Gap ad.
- The moment highlighted how old songs can feel new to younger listeners via commercial resurfacing.
The Era Of Rapid Generational Shifts Ended
- W. David Marks argues the late 20th century saw rapid, generational cultural shifts across music, film, and fashion.
- Since the 2000s culture often sits in a "forever present" where new work recycles older forms rather than feeling distinct.
Beatles As A Model Of Fast Cultural Change
- Marks uses the Beatles' rapid stylistic evolution as an example of 20th-century cultural acceleration.
- He contrasts that concentrated innovation with the slower, shallower change he sees after 2000.
