Journalling 014 -- Nostalgia

Content alert. This started as a rant, and not a particularly thought out one. I think there’s a perceivable shift in tone when I realise that my frustration may be rooted (at least partially) in privilege. I hope it’s ok, now. It needs work.

I’m seriously sick of nostalgia. Yeah, I get it, nostalgia is cute and warm and it reminds you of when you were a child. It’s kinda about that that I want to rant about. Nostalgia is why reboots and sequels to 80s and 90s franchises make bajillion moneys at the box office, and as a result of this Hollywood producers see them as safe bets and, after a few more years of this; we’ll have an entire generation of producers who’ve never seen an original idea. Yes there are exceptions, but the trend is there.

Nostalgia is the basis for the entire fucking raison d’être of the Conservative movement. Look at this shit:

Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes retaining traditional social institutions in the context of culture and civilization. By some definitions, Conservatives have variously sought to preserve institutions including religion, monarchy, parliamentary government, property rights and the social hierarchy, emphasizing stability and continuity, while the more extreme elements called reactionaries oppose Modernism and seek a return to “the way things were”.[1][2]

Look at that crockpot of bodily humour. Traditional social conditions. Fucking nostalgia. Right there, fucking everything up. EU Referendum? Nostalgia for the ‘good old days’ of the British Empire, imperial measurements, and polio. Fuck it.

On an individual level, my generation has coined the term adulting to define their surprise at being able to function at a basic level in society. Yes, I get it; society sucks atm. Really, and I feel genuinely bad for people who feel uncomfortable in their adulthood, who’ve been failed by the systems in place that should provide them with that security as a member of society. My partner is obsessed with growing older, and how it’s terrible. Part of that is the Capitalist-Patriarchy telling (and selling) her that she as a woman has an expiration date on her value. Part of it is a nostalgia for being a 12 year old cuddled up with cartoons (I know because I’ve asked why she’s always hating being an adult). I honestly don’t get it. When I inquired further, both her and her sister said that they hate the stress of being an adult and fending for themselves. The diehard socialist in me agrees that yes; you shouldn’t have to worry about that, as we should all be chipping in to institutions that worry for us. I get it.

I’m quite privileged. I don’t have to worry about a large number of social conditions faced by various intersections of the population. I try my best to be an ally in training, but I stumble at times. What I’m trying to say is that growing up, and out of childhood is not a bad thing. And I’m sorry for anyone who’s had their adulthood suck for various reasons.

I was going to write this next paragraph as a “you”. Then I realised I have absolutely no right to dictate the experiences of others. For me, this is my answer to those who ask why I’m rarely nostalgic for the past; why I’m never trying to recapture my childhood.

I’ve never been so stressed, but I’ve never had so many important things to keep me occupied. I’ve never been so worried about money, but I’ve never had money of my own to do things with. I’ve never been so concerned about eating right and exercising, but I’ve never before taken pride in the body that I inhabit and been so aware of the effects of what I do with it. I’ve never stressed out about living with a mucky flatmate, but until then I’d never operated entirely by myself. I’ve never worried about what I’m going to do after my PhD, but I’ve never before had qualifications to my name that can let me make choices. I’ve never before worried about finding time for my hobbies, but I’ve never had so many interesting things that I want to do! I’ve never had my heart broken before, but I’d never loved another human being so deeply before. I’ve never had to explicitly make time to catch up with friends, but I never had such a diverse cast of friends all around the world before.

I’ve never been so exhausted all the time, but I’ve never been so driven. That’s why I’m not nostalgic for the past.