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This week, we’re tackling a question that feels more urgent than ever: what happens when culture fragments into a million tiny bubbles?
We start with the rise of “parochial bubbles,” the niche communities where creativity once thrived like Seattle’s grunge scene or LA’s metal bands, and we ask what happens when the internet erases the isolation that made them possible. Is hyper-specialization the new “scene,” or does it leave us with nothing truly shared?
From there, we take a good, long look at reboots, and how they MIGHT be our last common language. Superman, Batman, and Star Wars aren’t just franchises – they’re cultural life rafts in a sea of hyper-segmentation. Why do we continue to cling to stories from the past, and what does that say about us now?
We also unpack the paradox of choice in everything from entertainment to dating and beyond. With infinite options at our fingertips, are we actually less satisfied than when we all rushed home to watch Cheers or MASH together?
We round things off by asking the big question that’s been on OUR minds: what does all this mean for creators? Should you go all-in on your niche, or try to reach everyone? What happens to storytelling when there’s no longer a shared morality, or even a shared frontier?
Big thanks to all our listeners and patrons for supporting the show. We’ll see you next week!
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CREDITS:
Hosts: Kevin Lieber and Matt Tabor
Executive Producer: Ben Webster
Editor: Spencer Vann
"Created in the Unknown" theme by Basswaite: https://linktr.ee/Basswaite
Theme by Mega Drive → http://megadrivemusic.com
Opening Animation: Kidmograph
City Animation: Eric Langlay
"The Create Unknown" is produced by Unknown Media.
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