The 2020s have thus far distinguished themselves by a military-style global response to a broadly asymptomatic virus, but there are many positive and remarkable trends which are also making themselves felt during this decade, and one of these is indubitably the rise of paradigms of love which owe at least as much to Taoist, Confucian and Islamic traditions as to contemporary Western ones.
These models of romance which do not follow the typical, linear and closed boy-meets-girl-end narrative trajectory. Instead, love becomes a means for deeper development of the soul, a process which incorporates rationally inexplicable, non-linear and infinite elements; organic Internet engagement would appear to demonstrate that these ‘new’ ways of thinking about and experiencing love are clearly striking a chord with significant numbers of people.
Why exactly is this happening? After some contemplation, we at Mediolana think we’ve discerned some clues:
- Making perfect sense. At least some people are finding that these love paradigms possess more explanatory power than the ‘incumbent’ alternatives. In turn, they are generating new content about this resonance, which serves to grow the ‘movement’. These ideas are spreading because they are, to many, compelling and true.
- Erase and rewind. In many parts of postmodern life, existing structures are breaking down and being questioned like never before. Today’s dictatorship is yesterday’s democracy (and vice-versa); currencies issued by the government may hold less value than those ‘mined’ by computers; and mainstream cultural production is now in a state of apparently permanent crisis. Existing relationship structures with the same old establishment backers are similarly vulnerable.
- A more universal world. Ideas are in the process of becoming rapidly borderless and capable of acceptance anywhere, partly because the expectation that good ideas can come from anywhere has taken hold. In this context, a really powerful concept – such as a new understanding of the world’s most transcendent notion – can gain traction like never before.
Mediolana 