Remember Raunchy Pop Culture? It’s Back.
From Emma Seligman’s Bottoms to Addison Rae’s new album, fun media is making a whirlwind comeback.
Image Courtesy: Hollywood Reporter
Throughout the '90s and early years of the 2000s, we became spoiled by the simple-minded pleasantries of dumb, raunchy pop culture. Movies like Zoolander and Superbad sold out theatres across the states and albums like Britney Spears’s Oops!... I Did It Again flew off the shelves. Keeping Up with the Kardashians was taking off, and American society’s biggest debate was whose side you were taking in the Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie feud. Arguably a more lighthearted, easy-going time in history. At the core of this time period, content was the glue holding everyone together. Though we strayed throughout the years, over the past few months there’s been an overwhelming resurgence of beloved racy media.
After a decline in theater attendance post-pandemic, cinema is finally back in full swing. This summer, ads flooded socials and streets promoting films like No Hard Feelings, Strays, and Bottoms. Most recently, Bottoms has made its way into theaters around the country. Together, Rachel Sennott and Emma Seligman wrote a true 2000s fun, sketch-comedy film the world of cinema has been missing for the past decade. Bottoms is filled with quick-witted jokes and smart writing that may take a second to register with its audience. By bringing back this trust in the viewer, the directors of this film have done more for the film world than they may have even anticipated. The audience feels as if they’re being consulted, like they’re in on a joke between themselves and the writers… one not even the actors in the film know about.
Equally as important to the revival of the 2000s raunchy comedy was Jennifer Lawrence’s performance in No Hard Feelings. Lawrence’s character featured an abundance of crude commentary and suggestive scenes—the defining characteristics of the genre.
After the worldwide obsession with Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, it seemed 1990s-style pop hits were coming out of the woodwork. A new generation of pop stars took this as their chance to release and promote their girly records. Charli utilized her popularity from the Barbie soundtrack’s single, “Speed Drive,” to encourage listeners to give her other work, like her most recent album Crash, a chance as well. Addison Rae released her debut album, AR, which consisted of fun, Britney Spears-esque songs; it was no time before “2 die 4” was trending all over TikTok. Undoubtedly a full circle moment for Rae—after all, the app is where she first found her footing in the world of fame.
Image Courtesy: Vogue
It is a truly exciting time to be consuming media. We are leaning back into a simpler time, one before social platforms were all engrossing. Embracing a world of fun comedy and girly pop was once taken for granted, but it’s something we are getting a second chance to bring back.
Strike Out,
Writer: Caroline Higdon
Editor: Noelle Knowlton
Tallahassee