Summary
In 2024, pop culture reflected a conservative resurgence, marked by increased popularity of hyper-masculine “bro” figures, country music, and traditional femininity.
Stars like Sydney Sweeney were embraced as symbols of a backlash against “woke culture” and the Me Too movement.
Country artists like Morgan Wallen and Zach Bryan dominated charts, while conservative films, such as Reagan and Am I Racist?, saw box office success.
Analysts suggest this cultural shift is both a response to progressive movements and a strategic attempt by conservative media to shape public sentiment.
The backlash makes more sense when you consider it’s a purely emotional reaction. It’s a backlash against “feeling bad.” Nevermind that feeling bad when seeing someone who was wronged is appropriate.
Rather than even try to reckon with those feelings, the part of the nation that is not being victimized decided it’s too hard to empathize with victims. They didn’t like feeling bad. And happily for them, there were plenty of conmen and women, influencers, and other people more than happy to tell them they shouldn’t feel bad, in exchange for money and power.