Media Atmosphere

When networks were in on the fun

Originally, this was going to be about channel bumpers and how overlooked those are compared to other filmed and animated media that hasn’t been archived, and I will get to channel bumpers in this piece. It will merely open up into the springboard of wider media and what the bumpers mean. As a guy who jackhammers the corner of the YouTube mobile app screen hoping in vain that it’ll skip the ad sooner, this may seem odd, but the bumpers weren’t just a showcase of the network you were watching ChalkZone on.

It seems to be something of an exercise in animation. Already an expensive and labor-intensive medium, be it hand-drawn or stop-motion (the latter of which I have experience with TTwTT), making a silly animation in an extremely crude manner is nothing to sneeze at. The history of the medium has a rich lineage as attributed to the likes of Walt Disney and Warner Bros. With tech catching up and more and more animators and studios abusing the new tech to see what can and can’t be done, eventually some madman would turn channel idents into an art form.

With MTV’s launch in 1981 and gradual expansion nationwide, bumpers went from simple announcements to testing grounds for western animators who would later build the classic cartoons that featured on Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon later. Those of you who are old enough, let me know if the following names are familiar:

Henry Selick
Danny Antonucci
Eric Fogel
Mike Judge
Chris Prynoski

Sound familiar? If not them, then certainly the big guy who made it all possible: Fred Seibert.

Yes, of Frederator fame. The very same.

As for what the other people worked on, in no particular order: The Nightmare Before Christmas; Coraline; Ed, Edd, n’ Eddy; Beavis and Butthead; King of the Hill; Daria; Metalocalyse \m/; and Glenn Martin, DDS.

I thought about watching a few episodes and reviewing it sometime last year, funny enough >_>

These guys all had some kind of influence on animation in their fields. Their names mean something. Even if you never saw their works before, you may have at one point heard of their works or what they were doing. It’s not like Coraline was hiding under a rock, ya know?

Idents and channel bumper animations made for a channel’s branding. Nickelodeon would likely not stand out if it wasn’t for the orange splat, same goes for the subsidiary channel Nicktoons at the time. Cartoon Network’s various CN logos were so instrumental to the iconic brand that a western viewer may not be able to imagine anything else in its place. Adult Swim’s philosophy opted for something more minimalist in practice leading to one of their famous examples:

Interspersed with this white text on blackboard bumpers, were the simple 5-10 second reels of surrealist and absurdist imagery. Something I’m certain AS still does to this day.

Looking back on the original purpose of covering only Nicktoons bumpers, it was originally supposed to highlight how fundamentally lost a lot of those are. Some still survive by way of YouTube and the Internet Archive, but something more specific may not be available anymore outside of people’s memories. In my case, there was a specific bumper I recall airing between 2004-06 featuring a decently well made anthropomorphic chili pepper with an oscillating fan, a hand fan, and lounging in an igloo desperately struggling to stay cool.

S[sizzle]t like this doesn’t get archived, it gets lopped off the edges because the most important thing was watching Martin Mystery or the Invader ZiM Christmas special commercial free. And looking at the commercials that had been airing at the time in the mid-2000s, they go hand in hand with an era of surrealism that had aggressively shocking ways to get into your memory. You probably feel like you have to apply for AARP if you remember Above the Influence, Anti-Piracy commercials, and especially late-stage Blockbuster and RadioShack.

Broadening this post beyond the bumpers of a specific channel’s idents and bumpers expands the viewpoint of a rather bygone era. The 2000s were morphing into their own thing, but there was still a sort of nihilism that became something of an identity marker for the era as an evolution of the mid- to late-1990s. Once the decade settled after the anxieties of 9/11, it appeared that it developed its own sense of sharpness that simultaneously crossed the line over what was acceptable while also packaging it in a colorful box.

The music scene gave way for some of the most cleverly written songs. Metal and grunge hadn’t stopped evolving and soon enough, nu-metal had continued to expand beyond its roots. At the same time, picking up the pieces from how abrupt the beginning of the millennium was led to new waves of optimism and hope. Things looked dicey, the President looked like he was overcompensating for a failure by throwing bodies at the wrong country for dubious reasons, and if it wasn’t you, it might’ve been your dad or older cousin who, realistically, stayed long enough for the uniforms to change into that one pattern that blends in everywhere.

Funny part here is that the uniform didn’t change. The colors did >_>

Having said that, life continued on and having been a child in the 2000s, I distinctly recall a time when topics of conversation didn’t last only a couple of days at best. Kids and teens all watched many of the same TV shows, played the same games, rooted for the same celebrities, and listened to the same musicians. That last one pulls me back into MTV. These days, it’s best remembered as the home of reality and trash TV, but it’s original focus as a music channel still followed into the 2000s with the other stuff sitting in the back row.

Pre-social media 2000s relied heavily on word of mouth and without something like a TiVo or other DVR (or even just the VCR if you still had one), you were out of the loop on a handful of things. Not all, you’d notice if you missed who faced whom in a WWE match or whoever got nominated for the year’s VMAs. This is part of what’s missing if a piece of media is set in, say, 2000-05. You’ve got the year, you’ve got the clothing, you’ve got the 2002 Nokia, and you’ve got the filter. What you’re missing are the crazy commercials, PSAs, slang, attitude, and topics of discussion befitting subcultures. Donnie Darko, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, parental advisories, Eminem, Mortal Kombat and Grand Theft Auto III were part of the moral panics of the day, and if a game or something is set in 2002 and I don’t see any of those, then this is a carefully crafted birthday present for you:

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⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣴⡏⠁⠀⠀⠈⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⣿⠛⠛⠋⠙⠻⣦⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢉⢰⣤⣿⣧⣰⣧⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠉⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⣼⠟⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⡟⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠸⣧⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣼⣿⣿⡈⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⡇⣤⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⢰⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠸⣿⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢹⣷⠶⠶⢶⣤⡀⠈⢿⡇⠙⠁⠀⠀⢰⣄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣇⣸⣿⣄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⡿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣼⣷⡀⠀⠀⠀⠸⡟⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠹⣧⡀⠀⠈⢿⣆⠈⢷⡄⠀⠀⠀⣦⠙⣦⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠻⠟⠋⣿⣆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣴⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠻⢾⣿⣧⠀⠙⢦⡀⠀⢹⣆⠘⣷⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣠⣾⠟⠿⣦⣄⡀⠀⠀⢀⣠⣶⣾⣿⣿⣆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣾⣿⡏⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣰⡟⠉⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠙⢿⡆⠀⠈⠷⣤⣨⣿⠀⠙⣷⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣰⣿⡟⠀⠀⠙⢿⣷⣶⣤⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣦⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⣿⣿⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⢀⣼⠏⠀⠀⣿⣆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⡇⠀⠀⠀⠈⠉⠹⣇⠀⠈⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⣿⣿⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠙⠻⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⢀⣾⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⣰⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⢻⡿⠇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣸⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢿⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⣿⣿⣦⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣴⠶⠿⠿⠛⠛⢻⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⣼⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⣰⣿⣿⠄⠀⠀⠀⢸⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⡆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣾⣷⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠙⠻⣿⣧⣤⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣠⣴⣾⣿⣿⣿⠃⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⠇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⢠⣿⠛⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣼⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣧⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⢻⣿⠀⠀⠀⢀⣴⣿⣿⡟⢿⣄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⢻⣿⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⢻⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢻⡆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⡇⠀⣠⣴⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠈⠻⣦⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠻⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠋⣰⣿⡟⠀⠀⠀⣸⣿⣿⣄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⢻⡀⠀⠀⠀⣰⣿⠇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣷⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⠀⠀⠈⠻⣦⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣦⣌⣉⣁⣀⣀⣤⣴⣿⡿⠁⠀⠀⢠⣿⡟⠀⠻⣆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠈⣷⠀⠀⠀⠘⠋⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢿⠆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣇⠀⠀⠀⠈⠻⣦⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⠻⠿⠿⠿⠟⠋⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⣾⣿⠇⠀⠀⠙⢷⣄⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⢸⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠻⣶⣄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣼⣿⣿⠂⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠻⣦⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⢷⣦⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣠⡾⠛⠀⣾⡁⢀⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠹⣿⣦⣤⣀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⢻⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠛⠷⣤⣄⣀⣠⣤⣤⣤⣶⡾⠛⠉⠀⠀⢰⣿⣷⣾⣿⣷⣤⣀⠀⠀⠹⣿⣿⣿⣿⣶⣄⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⢷⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠉⠉⠉⠉⣛⣿⣿⣿⣷⣦⣸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣦⣀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⠷⣄⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⡝⢿⣦⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣠⣾⡿⠛⠉⠉⠛⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠈⠻⢿⠇⠈⢻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣦⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠛⢦⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣆⠹⣿⣦⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣴⣿⣿⣷⣤⣤⣶⠶⠻⠿⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠹⣦⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣰⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣆⠘⢿⣿⣦⡀⠀⠀⠀⢠⣾⣿⠿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣥⣤⣤⣤⣄⣀⠉⠙⢿⡧⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡄⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⢷⣄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣦⠈⢻⣿⣿⣦⣤⣴⣿⠟⠁⠀⠀⠈⠙⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡄⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⠳⣦⣄⣀⣀⣀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢨⣿⡿⠻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⡀⠙⢿⣿⣿⡿⠋⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠻⣷⣄⣈⠉⠉⠛⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢹⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⡀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⢿⣿⡟⠋⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣠⣾⡿⠛⠀⢀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣄⠀⠙⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⣿⣿⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣠⣴⠾⠛⠁⠀⠀⢀⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠛⣻⣆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢹⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡄
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣴⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⢀⣀⣠⣴⠾⠛⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣴⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢰⣿⡿⠋⢁⣠⣾⣿⣿⣷⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣴⠛⣽⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠛⠋⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⡟⠀⣴⣿⣿⣿⣿⡟⠛⣷⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢹⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡟⠁
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣸⣿⣾⡿⠿⠛⠋⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣠⣴⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣾⣇⣴⣿⣿⣿⠟⠉⠀⣠⣾⣷⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠛⠉⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣴⠾⠛⠋⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣀⣤⣴⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠁⠀⢠⣾⣿⣿⣿⣧⡀⠀⠀⠀⠈⣿⣿⣿⠿⠛⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣾⡇⠀⠀⠀⢀⣀⣤⣤⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣆⠀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣠⣤⣤⣴⣿⣿⣿⣿⡄⢀⣴⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⡀⠀⢀⣼⡿⠛⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣧⣴⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠛⠛⠛⠉⠉⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠙⠻⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡷⠞⠋⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠿⠛⠋⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠟⠛⠋⠉⠛⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠋⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠟⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠻⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠿⠟⠛⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠟⠋⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠉⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠟⠛⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠉⠉⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

I really hope this comes across well when I click on the publish button.

Short version: media helps to build all parts of culture, even when it heavily mythologizes and it mythologizes a f[blyat]k ton. Look at a specific decade, look at how the people talked and dressed and what they watched and how they consumed entertainment. You can looking at a single thing from an era, but to elevate it beyond what it originally was meant to represent similarly contributes to the mythology, but not in a way that can suggest graceful aging.

The ASCII art didn’t survive. This is what I was trying to copy-paste.