Arts through the decades: 2000s edition

In the 2000s, art was shaped by the rapidly changing world.  With rapid innovative advancements in technology, artists quickly adapted to the fast-evolving landscape.  Technology, globalization, and the growing influence of the internet all shaped the various forms of art.

Visual Art

The 2000s marked a digital boom in art.  Artists began to incorporate Photoshop, 3D software, video editing, and even early forms of internet-based art.  The themes of this type of art often question our growing dependency on technology as a society, the paranoia of surveillance, and digital identity.  The line between art and media began to blur, as online media influenced and inspired art.

Art continued to be idea-driven, focusing less on artistic beauty and technique and instead conveyed messages.  Artists in the 2000s expressed their thoughts and opinions on global issues such as war, terroism, consumerism, capitalism, climate change, and human rights.  They drove to confront audiences, provoke discussion, and emotional responses.

Artists' experiments thrived, as they blended pop culture and memes with fine art. Influenced by postmodernism, this approach challenged the idea of what ‘good taste’ or elitism is in art.  

Music

The digital revolution changed how people consumed music.  The iPod, which was released in 2001, and MP3 players replaced CDs as the main format.  Furthermore, file sharing platforms like Napster and later YouTube made music widely accessible, but also challenged traditional music industry.

Following the 1990s, pop continued to dominate the charts, with songs that were highly produced and incredibly catchy.  Established artists' from the 1990s, such as Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Justin Timberlake, maintained their popularity as new voices emerged.  Rihanna debuted in 2005 with “Pon de Replay", and Lady Gaga later debuted in 2008 with her hit single “Just dance”.  Many pop songs helped define the 2000s, including “Toxic” by Britney Spears, “Umbrella” by Rihanna, and “I got a feeling” by The Black Eyed Peas.

Pop punk, emo, and alt rock bands like Green Day, Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance, and Paramore gained huge and loyal fanbases.  Their lyrics often discussed teen angst, identity, and rebellion.  Many young listeners found these subjects relatable and enjoyable.  Alt rock continued in the 2000s with bands such as The Killers, Coldplay, Arctic Monkeys, and Radiohead experimenting with digital sound.

Film & Theater

With the huge technological shifts that the world was facing, films improved in quality.  CGI and digital effects pushed the boundaries of visual story telling.  Noteworthy films include The Lord of the Rings, Avatar, and The Matrix Reloaded.  Furthermore, new and old genres thrived, with movies like Spider-Man (2002), Iron Man (2008), and Batman Begins (2005) laying the groundwork for what would become the highly popular Marvel Cinematic Universe.  Fantasy and sci-fi flourished with the release of films like the Harry Potter films and the Star Wars prequels.  Animated films also prospered with studios like Pixar and Dreamworks producing commercially successful movies.  

Broadway released a major musical hit in 2003 with Wicked, a reimagined version of The Wizard of Oz told from the witches’ perspectives.  Theater followed music trends, with more pop rock musicals and jukebox musicals like Mamma Mia gaining popularity.  Moreover, filmmakers and screenwriters proved to love experimenting, blending dance, modern music, and multimedia in ways that reflected the mass influence media can have. 

Fashion

In the early 2000s, fashion consisted of many popular styles, such as the Y2K aesthetic and pop start glam.  Low rise jeans were often paired with crop tops or shiny bedazzled belts.  Bright and vibrant colors remained popular for their expressive, bold statements and big clothing brands began to plaster their labels across clothing.  Tracksuits, denim overload, visible layering, and diverse, creative accessories were everywhere.  Over time, popular fashion shifted, though only slightly.  The mid to late 2000s brought skinny jeans paired with converse sneakers and the boho-chic aesthetic.  There was also a revival of plaid and grunge.  Layering didn’t end in the early 2000s and instead went further with layered jewelry.  There was a fast fashion boom,  with stores like H&M, Forever 21, and Zara.

Arts of the 2000s embraced the new digital age with each form adapting to the decades rapid changes.  Ultimately, the 2000s was a decade defined by the heavy influence of technology and celebrity culture.