There is a genre of video on Youtube called the "reaction video". One variant is a "first look," where the youthful participants watch some relic of old culture and give commentary, or more likely, show various facial and gestural actions to show their usually positive registration of the retro music or film clip. So we see two twentysomethings watching Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock or a Talking Heads video. Invariably the reviews seem laudatory--they love this or that song. When the viewers sometimes are younger--maybe a pair of teen brothers or high school friends--the reactions remain laudatory, despite an underlying, agonizingly stifled, sense of ridicule or derision.  

The videos are nice affirmation for the oldster--yes the stuff we loved back in the day really was good. Who knows what the reviewers actually think, though.   But they offer an easy watching experience plus the chance to rehear some old favorites.. The reaction viewers are, generally, a congenial and socially skilled lot, and one can only imagine what type of work, in another era, they would find. Possibly game show hosts,   ministers, or funeral directors.

What these reaction videos also convey though, is how the original frisson of an artistic or musical work was idiosyncratic to the first viewer. Because what we are thinking as we look or listen is how mediocre the old stuff really is.. The initial glee is unavailable, lost on those of a later generation, and even on our later selves.  How can we have thought this stuff was good. What seemed iconic, exciting and grand at the time of our original viewing seems in 2022  corny, and poorly aging. What where we thinking, and how limited was our taste. And how kindly these Youtube reactors are for not pointing out our outlandish taste. No doubt they would get less likes. The eur-enthusiasm for any old Baby Boomer music presents a nice counter to today's political climate and begets hope for reconciliation for the older viewer, however likely their mercenary motives. Meanwhile, while watching these contemporary viewers, in their, so to speak, salad days, viewing the dates bands, music, or old movies, provides another reinforcer--a recollection of  how real and exciting the music or art or new movie seemed at the time. We did not register the corn, the odd outfits, the very arbitrary stabs at taste and art. The past memories are, after all, Hamlet in modern dress.

written not proofed 

Damon LaBarbera