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Why do we like older artists/songs more than newer artists/songs? We tend to think the the quality of music — and artists, and movies, or just art in general — has declined over time. Why? THREAD 1/n
While comparing a contemporary artist — or a piece of art — with a historical one, there’s a hidden yet perceptible hesitation to grant more eminence to a contemporary artist than to a veteran. Few reasons why: 2/n
The veteran artists are often widely respected and revered by our generation as well as our elders that any comparison that does not favor the senior artists is perceived as disrespectful. 3/n
Cultural pessimism. Every generation believes that people are not up to the standards of their parents and grandparents. Be it the music industry, or movie industry, cultural values, or the overall state of society, we think that things are getting worse over time. 4/n
This pessimism (that our culture is in decline) is one of the reasons why many of us can’t even imagine (let alone accept) that a contemporary music composer, such as A R Rahman, can be better (whatever that means) than someone like R D Burman. 5/n
(This is one of the most important points) We tend to compare the ‘current’ with the ‘best from the past’ — and as a result, the current (music) seems to pale in comparison. 6/n
Today’s listeners have enjoyed (and endured, if you’re not a fan) pretty much everything that A R Rahman has created, for instance. But when it comes to old songs, we are familiar with only those that stood the test of time. 7/n
Comparing *all* of the current songs with the *best* of the past is unfair — which conveniently overlooks mediocre numbers from the past to affirm that old is gold. 8/n
Surely a bulk load of junk was created in the 60’s and the 70’s as well, we just don’t remember those very well. Today’s junk is more accessible — and hence, intrusive and annoying — than yesterday’s. 9/n
The diversity of contemporary music industry implies that much trash will be produced. Those suboptimal, low-quality songs should be kept in perspective and we should consider them as a luxury that only a more progressive, innovative and diverse music industry can afford. 10/n
Whenever I hear someone bemoan that ‘things are not as they used to be’ about music, movies, or just about the overall society, I think about Principal Skinner 
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😄" title="Smiling face with open mouth and smiling eyes" aria-label="Emoji: Smiling face with open mouth and smiling eyes"> 11/n
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Here’s another reason: we are more impressionable when we are younger. If a groundbreaking album is released today, I am not going to be as bamboozled by it as I did when I was in my 20’s. 12/n
This doesn’t mean today’s music albums pale in comparison to yesteryear’s. It just mean that I don’t get as excited about things as I used to — at least not with the same intensity. 13/n
I truly believe that things do get better over time, in general. But our bias towards the past often blinds us actually see it. 14/n
Another reason is that when we think about songs from the past, we also (subconsciously) confound them with fond memories from our own past. Things look better from these rose-tinted glasses. 15/n
tldr; don’t get stuck in the past https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😊" title="Smiling face with smiling eyes" aria-label="Emoji: Smiling face with smiling eyes"> Art continues to evolve, grow, and — believe it or not — improve. If you can’t change with time, that’s okay — but don’t pooh-pooh the ‘present’ just because you can’t overcome your own biases. 16/16
