Who is the most culturally monolithic figure for Gen Z? This was a very interesting question posed by Ben Dietz, one that sought to understand if there was any person who everyone in Gen Z knew of.
“I was actually recently talking about this with my friends,” Kayla Suarez of social club and podcast Grownkid said. “Especially after the Coachella performance that Justin Bieber did. We got to talking just about pop stars nowadays and who is the ‘boy pop star,’ like the one like people are fainting over…Justin Bieber’s the main one.”
“It feels like back then there were these statement artists that everybody knew,” she added, “but now it seems like there’s just so much being put out now…It’s so hard to stand out now as the main pop star. I definitely think Justin Bieber at the time was that person.”
“The one that comes immediately to mind to me is Kanye,” Ben said. “That has interesting implications because of all of his public and private foibles…Everything from reality television to architecture to running for president. It makes you wonder in the future: are [these] the only people that are going to be able to touch multiple areas of culture, to break containment and be known across multiple spheres? Are we destined for President Camacho of Idiocracy because getting famous in that way is the only way to actually build consensus?”
“Do you not think it’s a Kardashian?” Kyle Raymond Fitzpatrick posed. “I feel like Kim occupies a bigger space than Kanye…She is occupying all those territories by blackfishing and appropriation. She has somehow made herself every woman, every race at all times. I want to say that, but I also think…Kylie? I don’t know.”
“Kayla, break the tie here,” Ben said. “What do you think?”
“I think you make a good point with Kim Kardashian,” Kayla said. “I for some reason completely forgot about her.”
“Which is probably a good thing!” Kyle said.
“What about her ex-husband?” Ben asked.
“But are people talking about Kanye anymore?” Kyle said. “I think people are still talking about Kim.”
“I think Kim is always being talked about,” Kayla pointed out. “There’s never a time where she’s not being talked about. She’s always doing something and, even if she’s not doing something, she’s just being talked about. A big part of that is because she’s been on television for decades now. She always has a presence even when she’s not exactly online or sharing things. I think with Kanye, he has peaks where he is most talked about.”
“Without a doubt,” Ben said. “Clinically true.”
“Kim Kardashian overall has aura and effect,” Kayla said.
It’s a fascinating question. Who do you think the most culturally pervasive figure for Gen Z is? Listen in to the full conversation above or on YouTube or Spotify.
Find more from HIP REPLACEMENT on YouTube, Spotify, and Instagram. Be sure to follow Ben Dietz over on SIC and Kyle Raymond Fitzpatrick over on The Trend Report™ too.
