Is culture stagnating, or is it just me? Music, film, fashion, and even scientific research all appear to be stuck in a rut, endlessly recycling past trends instead of producing anything original.
Critics like The New Yorker’s Kyle Chayka argue that algorithms—the opaque, automated systems governing what we watch, listen to, and buy—are flattening creativity into predictable patterns. But the problem runs deeper than just homogenized culture. Algorithms now dictate life-altering decisions in criminal justice, housing, employment, and politics, often without accountability. The real question isn’t just whether algorithms are making culture boring—it’s who designs them, what biases they encode, and how they reshape society in ways we barely understand.
Streaming platforms like Spotify and Netflix don’t just recommend content—they manufacture tastes. Ted Gioia points out that the music industry increasingly invests in old catalogs (think Bruce Springsteen and David Bowie) rather than new artists, while Hollywood churns out endless superhero sequels and algorithmically optimized Netflix shows. Even fashion brands replicate the same designs because data shows "that’s what sells."
This isn’t entirely new. Aldous Huxley warned in 1923 that …
Full Blog Post: https://art4marax.substack.com/p/the-age-of-algorithms
Published: May 31, 2025