Apathy toward nuance: a rant

02/09/2026

Last Saturday, my best friend Quinci and I went to an event for a friend’s birthday. It was hosted at a local concert venue and themed around a currently-trending HBO show, which neither of us have seen. The displays around the venue displayed TikToks of the cast members, spliced with scenes from the show. The crowd cheered exactly when expected. The music was exactly what you’d hear from a stereotypical DJ. The audience was exactly what you’d expect based on the theme. It felt algorithmic.

I’m increasingly frustrated with the state of culture (American/Utahn culture, specifically). It feels as though whatever is trending on TikTok is the only thing worth talking about publicly. Billboards are riddled with soon-to-be-outdated slang, people are on their phones half the time they're driving, social media is the only forum of public discussion. What the f*ck.

Even with folks in older generations–same thing, just swap TikTok for Instagram or FaceBook. When it isn’t social media, it’s usually some TV show consisting of over-exposition and shiny CGI. Small-talk at work consists of Real Housewives of Salt Lake City and Oh my gosh did you see what Jojo Siwa posted?? There seems to be a pervasive attitude of apathy toward complex subjects, nuance, and conflict. All things that are risky, generative, relationship-building. As smug as I feel saying “I haven’t seen that,” it’s not totally fulfilling. It removes me from the conversation.

There are other subjects that are much more worthwhile (to me). I’m interested in talking about culture as a whole, politics, conflict, thought, speech, definitions of humanity, art, and other creative expressions. Not superbowl ads. Not Instagram drama. I want to talk about how my art is influenced by my self-constructed belief system. I want to respond to "huh, weird weather" with "No, it isn't, and here are 20,942 reasons why..." but nobody could give two sh*ts. Climate change is complicated and scary, and so are the solutions. When I bring up topics like these or shift a conversation toward systemic thought, I've directly been told "it doesn't affect me," or "I don't care."

I'm sorry, but how is it not our job to care? When has Life ever responded well to apathy? "Ideology and advertising have exalted the permanent mobilisation of the productive and nervous energies of humankind towards profit and war." Caring is a strategic, empathetic, tangible response that enables me to try and think of ways to make the world a better place (I hope). Not every conversation needs to be a deep dive into the human psyche or postmodern-biotechnoethics, but a little nuance would be nice.

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