re: Why have the last 20 years been less culturally distinct than previous decades?

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You are exposed to so much more now, an idea like a new fashion trend isn't something that starts organically. Thus, if everyone gets the idea at the same time, it's no longer "cool".

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Fashion trends rarely started organically it has been driven by the industry for a very long time. The difference is the industry generally started the fire in NY and LA and it spread over time. Now when shows happen in Milan or Paris those that care know 2 minutes later and H&M et al are knocking it off and will be in discount stores by the end of the month.



As to the OP separating the decades usually requires some time until the distinct identity becomes clear. '79 was not that different from '82 and '88 not that different from 91. If you look close enough you will see the different identities of the naughts from the the tens.