Y2K

In this article, about the timeless quality of Sanrio character Hello Kitty and her special toylike, Hello Kitty and Friends, a cat with a red bow in a blue dress stands in front of a pink background with hearts. She is joined by -- moving clockwise -- a frog dressed in a red and white suit with a bow-tie, a bat dressed in a black cap with a jester collar and a pink skull, a bunny with a pink cap and a yellow bow and a chunky, yellow dog with little brown cap. The kitten, frog, dog and bunny are smiling as they wave at the camera, whilst the bat sticks their tongue out, glaring mischievously.

From Retro to Relevant: Hello Kitty’s Timeless Intergenerational Appeal in the Modern Era

Allegra Walker, University at Albany - SUNY

Exploring the timeless appeal of the iconic Sanrio character Hello Kitty and her friends amidst the resurgence of Y2K trends.…

February 11, 2024

Love for Lucy Runs Deep in “50 First Dates”

Christine Bardos, Santa Clara University

For the characters in the beloved 2000s rom-com, nothing can get in the way of their love for Lucy. Not even her damaged temporal lobe.…

January 31, 2024

‘Easy A’—The Defining High School Rom-Com of the 2010s?

Julia Ray, Northern Arizona University

“Sixteen Candles,” “Clueless,” “Mean Girls,” and… what?…

January 16, 2024

‘Stargate’ May Be Sci-Fi’s Most Self-Aware Franchise

Sydney Chastain, Florida State University

Meet a franchise that parodies its genre, its fans and itself.…

December 1, 2023

For an article about "Piece of Me" by Britney Spears and "Blank Space" by Taylor Swift, three photos of blonde hair Britney with her left hand up are in the bottom row. three photos of blonde Taylor on the top (upper left corner with mascara running, middle in action smashing a car hood, on right yelling with a kitchen knife in hand). In the top right corner, text in bright yellow letters, "Pop Idols Off the Deep End!" On the bottom a pink better with yellow text, "Bank Space Breaks Records. Piece of Me Breaks Britney."

How Britney Spears’ ‘Piece of Me’ Laid the Groundwork for Taylor Swift’s ‘Blank Space’

Avery Heeringa, Columbia College Chicago

Taylor Swift found herself in a somewhat similar position to Spears’ mid-2000s public scrutiny.…

November 15, 2023

In an article about the bimboification of knowledge, a young blonde woman stands in front of textbooks with lipstick marks all over them.

Be Hot, Be A Bimbo

Emily Chang, Wellesley College

Embracing femininity, liberalism and being hot: the term has found a new and improved definition on TikTok.…

May 4, 2023

Is Indie Sleaze the Next Big Fashion Trend?

Kaitlyn Anderson, Cornell University

Could the indie sleaze aesthetic be the next Y2K? Fashion trend experts predict a comeback for the aesthetic, but what does that entail?…

September 18, 2022

In an article about Y2K fashion trends, illustrations of glasses, hats and jeans

Returning Y2K Fashion Trends That Can Help You Switch Up Your Style

Sarah Esquivel, University of Texas at San Antonio

Hold onto your tiny handbags, 'Matrix' sunglasses and everything with a butterfly monogrammed onto it, because the 2000s are back. Here are some easy ways to take your look on a trip back in time.…

June 1, 2021

The Return of 2000s Aesthetics Is Unsurprising in an Age of Uncertainty

McKenna Uzelac, Columbia University

The era of Britney Spears and Juicy Couture is back, and it's a perfect complement to the social turmoil being experienced by Generation Z.…

June 30, 2020

Almost Two Decades Later, the y2k Aesthetic Is Making a Comeback

Michael Wu, Case Western Reserve University

’90s kids: Get ready for a few blasts from the past.…

October 21, 2018

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