2024 was packed with iconic pop culture events. Film, music, sports, media, and political events stood out in ways that hadn’t happened years before. Our attention was captured by the flourishing of music and film genres to the lasting imprint of social media and politics. Here are some defining moments that shaped the year:
5. Film
2024 delivered some of the most highly anticipated films, including the adaptation of the musical Wicked, Gladiator Two, Dune: Part Two, and the series Baby Reindeer, which sparked conversations with its dark comedic narrative. These films shaped 2024’s cinematic landscape, blending spectacle with social commentary. Hollywood faced some significant setbacks for film release schedules, such as the writer’s strike, which had a significant impact on the 2024 release schedule. Yet, this year was still able to deliver a diverse array of films that were still able to reach success.
4. Politics
2024 was also shaped by the multiple political events that sparked further division, created backlash, and brought attention to the role of social media in political debates. Biden announced his withdrawal from the presidential race and endorsed Kamala Harris to run in his place. Before Trump’s win in the presidential election, he experienced a failed assassination attempt, became the first former president convicted of felony crimes, and had his chances of winning the election provided by Elon Musk’s financial and social media support. TikTok became one of the main social media platforms to be used by both Kamala and Trump to bring further recognition to their campaigns.
3. Brain Rot
Oxford established “Brain Rot” as theword of the year. This term reveals how people, mostly Gen Z and Gen Alpha, constantly consume content to the point where it impacts our cognitive health. Social media platforms, such as TikTok and Instagram sparked this online phenomenon, where trends Skibidi Toilet, ‘Ohio’ memes, and “demure” were born. Brain Rot described the unsettling humor of younger generations as well as the short attention spans that stemmed from doom scrolling. 2024 marked the time when unexpected and viral moments shaped the humor of children and young adults who were impacted by Brain Rot.
2. 2024 Olympics
This most anticipated event of the year was held in Paris, featuring numerous performances and personalities from athletes. The Paris Olympics’ sustainable initiatives, advocacy for athletes, and the addition of new sports shifted the perspective of the Olympics from being not only a celebration of sports but also a celebration of culture. Some popular athletes include the U.S. gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik, who took home the gold medal for Team USA; Ilona Maher, won bronze for Team USA in rugby, and Raygun (Rachael Gunn), who became the Olympic meme for her breakdancing performance.
1. Pop Taking Over 2024
2024 was the year when pop influenced trends and redefined the music industry with experimental tunes and reinventing pop culture. These contributors include artists such as Charli XCX and the iconic feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar. Charli XCX’s club-electro-pop set the basics for the music of the summer. The iconic battle between Drake and Kendrick revealed scandalous secrets with catchy lines and surprising commentary that changed the perspective of the industry. This year was the moment when new and old music artists took their chances to redefine the genre of pop.