Poptimism’s Backlash Returns Cool

After two decades where popularity was treated as artistic merit and mega‑brands led pop, a countermood is emerging that re‑elevates 'cool' and retro authenticity. New stars succeed by reviving older aesthetics and shedding relentless brand‑positivity, signaling fatigue with poptimism’s corporate triumphalism. — If cultural authority shifts from pure popularity to authenticity, it will reshape media criticism, platform curation, and how brands and politics court mass audiences.