"Because the human condition in general, and our individual lives in particular, are difficult and can be disappointing. As youngsters we hoped for more for ourselves, and become disillusioned. So we yearn for the good times of our past, and idealise them and our relative innocence often forgetting the anxiety and fears we may have had at the time. Some of our cultures also idealise the good aspects of the past, and ignore the hardships."
"Nostalgia is normal; as we get older, we find ourselves getting misty-eyed about our past and our experiences. But obviously it's going to be selective we don't wish to indulge in the unpleasant, sad times. We focus on the good. It can be restrictive in a way, if we close ourselves off to the present. You'll see it on any social media discussion or comments section."
"How the music or entertainment was so much better in our day. That today's songs, shows and films aren't up to scratch. We become our parents and some of us take it further. They get angry if their favourites are rejected by the younger generations. They get furious at reboots, remakes and sequels forgetting that stories and music have been recycling and re-doing for ever. It gets particularly concerning when politicians tap into nostalgia, promising to take us back to the mythical past."
Nostalgia arises from disappointment with current life and a tendency to idealize past experiences and relative innocence. People selectively recall positive memories while forgetting past anxieties and hardships. Cultural narratives can reinforce idealized pasts and mask historical difficulties. Childhood hardships differ from adult ones, so remembered positives can outweigh negatives and strengthen nostalgic feelings. Nostalgia provides comfort but can become restrictive when it closes people off to the present. Social media amplifies nostalgic claims about superior past music and entertainment and fuels intergenerational conflict. Political actors can exploit nostalgia to promise a return to a mythical past and to divide societies.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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