Ep. 55: Y2K Futurism

Silent Generation

Y2K futurism is an aesthetic that emerged in the late ‘90s and early-2000s that consists of the color silver, consumer electronics, large sunglasses, and "blobjects." Its depictions of what the future could look like in the 2000s were utopian and optimistic, simultaneously celebrating the new millennium and the early internet. On this week’s episode Joseph and Nathan start by listing the key elements of Y2K Futurism before detailing the various ways the aesthetic materialized in the physical world, from Capri Sun ads to airport lounges. Amongst other things they discuss how the video game Space Channel 5 took the aesthetic in a campy and extraterrestrial direction, how the availability of CAD software in the design world led to popularity of blobjects, and how the artwork of Mariko Mori incorporated an impressive number of elements from the esthetic.

Links:
Y2K futurism Pinterest board: https://pin.it/6KzgiZwZ3
Nathan’s Y2K Too Unlimited shirt post
Terrell Davis Changed Digital Art Forever by Claudia Costa
The Untold Story of the Most Bonkers Sunglasses in Olympic History by Mahalia Chang
Groove Is In The Heart by Deee Lite
Breathe U In by Sipper & Adore
Playstation 2 condom ad
The Cyberfrontier and America at the Turn of the 21st Century by Jeffrey R. Cooper
The Y2K aesthetic: who knew the look of the year 2000 would endure? By Leigh Alexander
Miko No Inori by Mariko Mori

Artwork:
Focus Dailies CM (1999)

Recorded on 1/5/2025