
capitalist surrealism
what happens when we can no longer understand the world?
A recent viral video on TikTok, uploaded by user @nostalgia_vsh, has ignited a widespread discussion about the perceived decline of face-to-face interaction and outdoor activities in 2025 compared to the mid-1980s. The video, titled 'let's go back 🥺', features a series of vignettes set in 1985, where two young men express bewilderment at concepts like 'social media' and 'Instagram' and lament a future where people 'don't even know their neighbors anymore' and 'just stare at screens all day.'The video's narrative, delivered through a voiceover, positions 1985 as a period of genuine connection and outdoor freedom, contrasting it sharply with a hypothetical 2025. Scenes include friends gathered for pizza, a couple enjoying a handheld game outdoors, and a man tending to a DeLorean, subtly referencing the iconic time-travel film 'Back to the Future.' The sentiment culminates with an elderly man inviting viewers to return to 1985 for a long-awaited Christmas gift, symbolizing a collective yearning for simpler times.While the video is a creative, fictionalized portrayal, its strong emotional appeal and commentary on societal changes have resonated with millions, garnering over 1.4 million views and sparking conversations across social platforms about the impact of technology on human connection and the enduring allure of past eras.
what happens when we can no longer understand the world?