January 5, 2020

Defining Moments of the Decade: WTF, 2010s

Defining moments of the decade: WTF, 2010S!?
Source: The Burgundy Zine

Defined by cultural shifts, technological advancements, the climate crisis, the expansion of e-commerce, the rise of social media, and the continuation of memes, the 2010s brought major sociological changes that will continue to shape 2020.

2010: Social Media and Smart Phones

The percentage of the US population with a social media profile skyrocketed from 21 percent in 2009 to 44 percent in 2010, Statista reports.

Now, 79 percent of the US population has a social media profile.

Apple presented the world with the “thinnest smartphone ever” in June, and Instagram launched in October with 25,000 people signing up on the first day. Instagram now has over one billion users, according to Statista.

The Oil Spill

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in April 2010 marked the largest oil spill in history, says Encyclopedia Britannica.

The explosion occurred when a surge of natural gases blew up a concrete core. 11 workers lost their lives and 17 were injured when natural gases traveled up through the rig’s riser to the platform and ignited.

BP, the oil company that owned Deepwater Horizon, originally estimated that 1,000 barrels were spilling into the gulf each day. The US government later estimated that over 60,000 barrels were spilling out during the peak of the disaster.

Rage Comics Are All the Rage

Originating from a 4chan forum board in 2008, crudely drawn expressions in simple two to eight panel comics created in MSPaint known as “Rage Comics” dominated Facebook feeds.

Rage Comics left us with iconic characters such as “Rage Guy,” “Cereal Guy,” “Okay Guy,” “Fuck Yea Guy,” “Forever Alone Guy,” “Y U NO Guy,” “Me Gusta Guy,” and the most recognizable, the “Troll Face.”

Carlos Ramirez copyrighted the Troll Face in 2010 under the title, “A comic about the nature of internet trolling,” as seen in the United States Copyright Office’s database.

Lady Gaga’s Meat Dress

Lady Gaga’s 2010 Video of the Year Award acceptance speach at the VMAs in Sept. 2010
Source: Lady Gaga Teases ‘Born This Away’ in Acceptance Speech at the 2010 Video Music Awards | MTV

Lady Gaga sported a meat dress on stage as she accepted the 2010 Video of the Year award for her single “Bad Romance” at the Video Music Awards in Sept. 2010.

Although Lady Gaga’s no stranger to making fashion statements, Vogue reported her juicy apparel was more of a political statement against the US military preventing those who identify as LGBTQ from serving.

Republicans Take the House

After the 2010 Midterm Elections, Democrats lost 63 seats in the United States House of Representatives, giving Republicans the majority, The New York Times reported. Republicans also gained six governors.

Democrats lost six seats in the United States Senate but still retained a majority.

Continue to 2011 –>