"Ever since the Tumblr-scrolling days of my youth, my ultimate goal in life has always been to be seen as someone who is undoubtedly, undeniably, unquestionably cool. As most other former insecure, desperate-to-be-perceived-as-cool teenagers would attest to, the formation of our identities directly coincided with the media, fashion, celebrities or philosophies we were fans of at the time. It was paramount that what we happened to enjoy got the stamp of approval"
"but I know that I'm not the only artsy-fartsy wannabe who uses their interests as a way to keep up with the esoteric Joneses. Who among us does not feel a sense of blissful pride whenever someone compliments our music taste, or asks for our movie recommendations, or most thrilling of all actually listens to and watches the things we told them to check out?"
Identity formation in adolescence often aligns with media, fashion, celebrities, or philosophies favored at the time. Many individuals adopt the tastes of trendsetters to gain acceptance in desired social circles. Internet 'It Girls' popularized retro music and media preferences, influencing younger fans. The desire to appear enigmatic leads to public declarations of obscure interests. This performative need for validation can persist into adulthood, causing embarrassment yet continuing to motivate name-dropping of arthouse films and literature. People derive pride when others compliment their tastes or follow their recommendations, reinforcing social capital through cultural gatekeeping.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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