A Grand Unified Theory of Cultural Stagnation
One of my favorite theories about the modern world is the idea that culture is "stuck." Whether the decline of ornamentation in modern architecture, or the fact that every corporate logo looks the same now, or the fact that Gen Z's favorite television was all made in the 1990s and 2000s, or the sequel fetish in Hollywood, or the theory that old music is eating new music on Spotify, the evidence of cultural stagnation abounds. But is there one grand theory that explains all of it? The psychologist and writer Adam Mastroianni thinks so. He joins Derek to discuss.
If you have questions, observations, or ideas for future episodes, email us at PlainEnglish@Spotify.com.
Host: Derek Thompson
Guest: Adam Mastroianni
Producers: Devon Baroldi
Links:
https://www.slowboring.com/p/the-hidden-cause-of-cultural-stagnation
https://www.experimental-history.com/p/the-decline-of-deviance
https://www.astralcodexten.com/p/whither-tartaria
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/12/america-innovation-film-science-business/620858/
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/12/america-really-running-out-original-ideas/621055/
https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/2025/11/blank-space-book-excerpt-culture/685037/
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More description
One of my favorite theories about the modern world is the idea that culture is "stuck." Whether the decline of ornamentation in modern architecture, or the fact that every corporate logo looks the same now, or the fact that Gen Z's favorite television was all made in the 1990s and 2000s, or the sequel fetish in Hollywood, or the theory that old music is eating new music on Spotify, the evidence of cultural stagnation abounds. But is there one grand theory that explains all of it? The psychologist and writer Adam Mastroianni thinks so. He joins Derek to discuss.
If you have questions, observations, or ideas for future episodes, email us at PlainEnglish@Spotify.com.
Host: Derek Thompson
Guest: Adam Mastroianni
Producers: Devon Baroldi
Links:
https://www.slowboring.com/p/the-hidden-cause-of-cultural-stagnation
https://www.experimental-history.com/p/the-decline-of-deviance
https://www.astralcodexten.com/p/whither-tartaria
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/12/america-innovation-film-science-business/620858/
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/12/america-really-running-out-original-ideas/621055/
https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/2025/11/blank-space-book-excerpt-culture/685037/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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