2022 is a Transitional Year

It would've been nice if we would've got an endemic and no Russian conflict but Pootin just had to cause a stink.

You're way off man.. So what if we saw signs of pop punk in 2018? Just because we saw little signs doesn't mean that's what defined the era or the era right after it. I think pop punk will define the era of the mid 2020s. We're already seeing signs of it dominating. The early '20s was about retro pop. The mid '20s will probably be about punk. We are already seeing signs of mid 2020s culture right now.

I also disagree with 2021 being peak early 2020s. 2021 is still too early to be considered the quintessential early 2020s year. 2021 still had so much lingering late 2010s culture and influences. Even now, the late 2010s influences are still lingering, but maybe less so than 2020. Mid 2022 through early 2023 will likely be peak early 2020s.

I’ve also noticed that toned down 2021 vibe in 2022. I’m glad to know that I’m not alone in noticing that. Something about 2022 feels off, very 50-50 or neutral like you said. Really weird to know that less people adopted cheesy 2020s fashion in 2022 compared to 2021. Tech and gaming still feel strongly connected to the late 2010s. Hopefully we’ll enter a new era of cinema later in 2022. Movies so far have been no different than the late 2010s with some exceptions like maybe Spiderman No Way Home. Pop punk has definitely entered the sellout and or cringe phase way too soon. I can still see pop punk music being around in say early 2024, but maybe not by late 2024.

You’re right. I still remember hearing pop punk from 2007 to 2010, even if the genre was past peak or long in the tooth by then. I may have even noticed nu-metal from late 2004 to 2006.

I think the trend of higher quality big name movies started with Joker from 2019. Yes Batman has the potential to be another one of those movies. 

Makes sense that the current fashion isn’t working well and is out of context. I’ve noticed gen zers wanting to relive the late 1990s and Y2K era, but a lot of them don’t remember that time.

I understand why the late 1990s and Y2K era maybe hated by many. The hate against those eras were huge in the mid 2000s, late 2004 to 2006. I’ve noticed that compared to maybe the early, but definitely the mid 1990s, that the late 1900s and Y2K era seem shallow and conformist with boy bands, conservative attitudes, pretty much all the reasons you stated. Mid 1990s seem more rugged, real and organic than the late 1990s and Y2K era judging by the music, movies, TV, design, aesthetic, pop culture of those eras. Late 1990s and Y2K era seem glossy, commercialized, over polished in comparison, Y2K era more so, especially the 2000-2001 season being the worst of that. However, like you said, the late 1990s and Y2K era contains a lot of amazing, underrated cultural aspects which haven’t been explored or fully embraced yet. I don’t know if mainstream culture will do that. I feel like the gen zers have barely scratched the surface of late 1990s and Y2K culture.  

I remember late 1980s to core 1990s nostalgia was fully embraced with the fashion, movies, music and maybe video games. I think one of the maps featured in Call of Duty Infinite Warfare which came out in 2016, was a 1980s themed space park.

Yes 2022 seems standalone, doesn’t feel connected to anything just like 2020. What’s weird is that 2020 and 2022 contain nothing but 0’s and 2’s kind of like 2000 and 2002. New cultural aspects definitely popped out more in the second half of 2021. I think more people started buying PS5’s then compared to early 2021. 2022 is supposed to build on and establish the new trends from 2021, not the opposite. 2022 feels like a regression year.

it's also only February, I'd wait until atleast June to judge 2022. Every year feels like a nothing year when there's only 2 months to compare with other year's 12 lol.

I actually feel like 2022 had more going on in the first 2 months than 2021 did too.