The "Prisoner" aesthetic. Artists like Doja Cat ( Planet Her ) and Lil Nas X ( Montero ) leaned into hyper-maximalist, psychedelic, and often campy visuals. Lil Nas X’s Montero (Call Me By Your Name) sparked conservative outrage over its satanic imagery, which, predictably, only made it stream more.
: K-pop continued its global reign, with BTS releasing the massive English-language hit "Butter," which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for multiple weeks. 4. Gaming: From Niche to Mainstream Social Hubs youthlust2023lilmilkfirstanalxxx720phev 2021
Gaming solidified its position as a dominant form of social media and entertainment, growing 1.4% to reach $180.3 billion in revenue. 2021 In Review: 8 Trends That Defined Pop | GRAMMY.com The "Prisoner" aesthetic
These are just a few examples of the many exciting developments in entertainment content and popular media in 2021. The year saw a mix of new releases, sequels, and innovative storytelling across various platforms. : K-pop continued its global reign, with BTS
Ironically, as labor rights trended, popular media also became obsessed with "nepotism babies" (the children of famous actors who also became famous). The term nepo baby was coined/exploded in 2021, targeting Maude Apatow, Lily-Rose Depp, and John David Washington. It was a meta-conversation about who really gets to make entertainment content.