博客來畢業於哈佛大學東亞研究所的文化評論家 W・大衛・馬克思（W. David Marx），繼《洋風和魂》（Ametora）、《階級與品味》（Status and Culture）之後，以敏銳的文化觀察與跨領域的分析，揭示當代流行文化正面臨缺乏創意的危機，陷入令人困惑的停滯期。
在過去二十五年間，流行文化似乎進入了一個「空白區」。無論音樂、影視、時尚、藝術或街頭文化，都陷入不斷重製與懷舊的循環。續作、翻拍、復刻、聯名成為安全且穩賺的選項，而具風險與實驗精神的創新，卻難以獲得關注與投資。在演算法與流量邏輯的推動下，爆紅現象取代了創造力，潮流以更快的速度誕生，也更快被淘汰。
作者帶領我們重新回顧這段模糊的文化風景——從歐巴馬時代到K-pop 韓流崛起，從芭黎絲·希爾頓的名媛文化，到漫威電影宇宙的擴張，再到碧昂絲、泰勒絲展現的超強適應力。解析當代文化運作的邏輯：對獨立文化的反感，以及對九〇年代反主流精神的反彈，催生出一股「『反』反主流文化」——崇尚財富與名聲，讚揚商業明星、反自由主義情緒，讓菁英與星二代的影響力進一步擴張。
《空白世代》（Blank Space）以犀利又充滿洞見的筆法，帶我們理解這個創意似乎停滯不前的時代，揭開經濟、科技與文化之間錯綜的連結，也邀請我們重新思考——下一次真正的文化革新，將從何而起？(文/博客來編譯)
好評推薦：
「作者提出來自不同文化的大量案例：從日本街頭服飾的崛起、納粹化的網路迷因，到兒童網紅Rizzler……清楚勾勒出許多現代人，特別是美國人，長久以來的共同感受：我們的文化已陷入停滯。是一部跨領域、具說服力且適合大眾閱讀的作品，探討現代生活中不可忽視的文化現象。」——柯克斯書評（Kirkus Reviews）
「二十一世紀的頭25年，有種矛盾又撲朔迷離的感覺——看似發生了許多事，卻又彷彿什麼都沒發生。《空白世代》藉著縝密的研究分析當中的模式，穿越喧囂與雜亂，讓這段看似無序的時光重新呈現意義。」——資深音樂記者暨文化評論家西蒙‧雷諾茲（Simon Reynolds）
An NPR Most Anticipated Book of Fall 2025
A revealing exploration of a quarter century of cultural stagnation, examining the commercial and technological forces that have come to dominate contemporary culture--from music and fashion to art, film, TV, and beyond
Over the past twenty-five years, pop culture has suffered from a perplexing lack of reinvention. We’ve entered a cultural ＂blank space＂--an era when reboots, rehashes, and fads flourish, while bold artistic experimentation struggles to gain recognition. Why is risk no longer rewarded, and how did playing it safe become the formula for success? Acclaimed cultural historian W. David Marx sets out to uncover the answers.
In this ambitious cultural history, Marx guides us through the blur of the twenty-first century so far, from the Obama era to the rise of K-pop, from Paris Hilton to the Marvel cinematic universe, from Beyoncé and Taylor Swift to . . . Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, whose enduring influence highlights both their adaptability and the broader shifts in pop culture. Combining sociological, economic, and political insights with a deep dive into art, street culture, fashion, and technology, Blank Space dissects the rise of profit-driven, formulaic trends and the shifting cultural norms that often prioritize going viral over innovation. He reveals how backlash against indie snobbery and nineties counterculture gave rise to a ＂counter-counterculture＂--one marked by antiliberal sentiment, the celebration of business heroes, and the increasing influence of industry plants and the elite class. In a world of crypto bros, nepo babies, and AI-driven art, Marx offers readers a much-needed dose of clarity and context.
Vibrantly narrated and sharply argued, Blank Space is an essential guide for anyone looking to understand the chaos of the twenty-first century, the trends, tastemakers, and icons who shaped it, and how we might push our culture forward over the next quarter century--through renewed emphasis on creativity, community, and the values that transcend mere profit.
