Written by Eugenie Maynard
Graphics by Hengjia Liu
This piece was originally published in ‘Memento Mori’, Bossy’s 2021 print edition.
We’re all here on a rock floating in space, so what’s the point? It is an idea and sentiment that I’m sure everyone in our generation is familiar with, and has probably even expressed at some point. But is this just nihilism reincarnate, or something more? Nihilism has always arisen as a reaction to a rapidly changing world. In the 20th century we had the likes of Sartre and Camus reacting to societal upheaval in the wake of the Industrial Revolution and global conflict.
Nihilism was born from the erasure of commonly held truths that underpinned the social fabric of life at the time. This environment of change and instability lent itself to the central concept of nihilism, that all values are baseless, and therefore moral and social constructs built around them are meaningless. This then leads people to withdraw from society, as they can no longer find a meaningful place in it.
It’s no wonder that Gen Z is embracing nihilism. The world has been completely reconstructed within our lifetime: we’ve come of age in the wake of 9/11 and rapid globalisation, paired with the explosion of the information age. The way in which people communicate, connect, and receive information has drastically changed with social media and the constant access to the news. Our generation has become accustomed to a heightened awareness of social problems, contributing to a rise in anxiety.
The accelerating change in the operation of society has led some of our generation to question our place in the world and the purpose of our existence, leaning into the nihilism born from earlier eras of massive change. This embrace of nihilism is particularly seen in online spaces such as Tik Tok, where it is not out of place for people to joke that they want to die because of how meaningless everything is. The meaninglessness of modern life has been exacerbated by the climate crisis, and accompanying climate anxiety, prompting many to question the point of improving a world that may soon be uninhabitable. I know for me, the climate crisis is always in the back of my mind, impacting the choices I make not only now, but also for a future which may not exist. I mean, how on earth is anyone supposed to plan what their life might look like in 20, 30 years when we can’t even be sure that the planet will exist in the same way?
There has also been a huge tension between the efforts of young activists and established governments that seem impervious to change. The intersection of these issues can be seen in the Extinction Rebellion movement, which highlights the futility of life in the wake of the climate crisis through its disruptive political actions. The constant struggle to achieve even the smallest amount of change contributes to the sense of pointlessness often felt by people of our Generation.
However, I think it would be dismissive for the ‘floating rock’ mentality to be justified as part of the sarcastic and nihilistic attitudes that Gen Z is known for. This mentality has been harnessed by young people to empower us to take risks and reject social conventions that no longer work for us. After all, if nothing matters, then why bother conforming to standards that don’t reflect who you are? For me personally, as a Queer woman, this mantra of ‘who cares’ has been liberating, not nihilistic, as it gave me the freedom to express myself and explore my identity regardless of what was expected of me. It has allowed me to experiment with how I dress, what I share of myself with other people, and the references I make which, to people in the know, would definitely out me, as it has allowed me to reject the expectation of heterosexuality.
This liberating mentality rejects conservative ideas often associated with religion and tradition, and instead reconstructs a social consciousness that embraces diversity. This rejection can be seen in the rising rates of secularism among young people, signifying a move away from institutionalised religion that has historically been an important social force in upholding more conservative morals. It is also seen in the relaxed attitude often taken by younger people towards matters that used to have a huge impact on social standing, such as sexuality or employment. It’s this kind of freedom that I often find accompanies the expression of the ‘floating rock’ idea.
Sure, there is always a cynical and mildly nihilistic undertone to it, but at the core of things, the floating rock mentality is about embracing change and reshaping social expectations to align with the values of our generation. It also provides a strong motivation for positive change, and instead of cowering in the face of constant information and bad news, we can use this ‘who cares’ mantra to make our society reflective of us.
And that’s what makes it so empowering.