Jacobin Radio Behind the News: Crisis in Korea w/ Tim Shorrock
Jan 16, 2025
Colette Shade, author of "Y2K: How the 2000s Became Everything," reflects on the cultural landscape at the millennium's turn, contrasting past optimism with today's disillusionment. Tim Shorrock, a journalist specializing in South Korea and U.S. foreign policy, discusses the current political crisis involving President Yoon Seok-yeol's controversial martial law declaration. He sheds light on public protests, impeachment proceedings, and the complicated dynamics of South Korea’s alliances with Japan and the U.S., set against rising tensions from North Korea.
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Y2K Era Definition
- The Y2K era, spanning from 1997 to 2008, was defined by the dot-com and housing bubbles.
- These bubbles fostered a sense of effortless prosperity and political apathy.
Y2K Political Subjectivity
- The Y2K era's political subjectivity stemmed from the perceived triumph of American capitalism after the Cold War.
- This led to a decline in political engagement until the 2008 housing bubble burst.
Colette Shade's 2008 Predictions
- In 1999, Colette Shade wrote a time capsule letter predicting life in 2008.
- Her predictions included curing cancer, watching movies online, and computer-produced pop music.
