Life and Art from FT Weekend cover image

Life and Art from FT Weekend

Cultural predictions for 2025: the year we accept the chaos

Dec 23, 2024
Matt Vella, FT Weekend editor-at-large, shares insights as he discusses cultural predictions for 2025. He tackles the potential decline of meme culture and the push for spontaneity in dining, encouraging a casual approach. Vella also highlights a hopeful cultural renaissance in Syria, while exploring evolving views on masculinity in modern society. Embracing chaos, he suggests a shift toward authenticity in our hyper-communicative world, inviting listeners to let go of the fear of being constantly watched.
34:37

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Listeners express a desire for spontaneity in dining, advocating for unplanned meals over organized restaurant reservation systems, reflecting a craving for simplicity.
  • The podcast highlights optimism for a cultural resurgence in Syria, envisioning a flourishing of artistic expression due to anticipated political changes and global recognition.

Deep dives

Reflecting on Past Predictions

The hosts reflect on their predictions from the previous year, discussing their hopes for a chaotic and whimsical culture post-pandemic. They coined the term 'glitter chaos' to encapsulate a desire for a vibrant, carefree attitude, which included descriptions of whimsically dressed individuals enjoying spontaneous social events. However, upon review, they observed that the reality did not fully align with their expectations, noting that while some fashion trends emerged, the anticipated revelry fell flat amidst global political tensions and concerns. This leads to a realization that people are grappling with an ongoing acceptance of chaos rather than a return to ordinary joy.

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