Poptimism merged music criticism with progressive identity politics

Evidence

This cultural shift made poptimism not only timely but also politically resonant. For its advocates, celebrating pop music became a way to champion the voices of marginalized communities. Hip-hop and R&B, genres rooted in Black culture, were already dominating the charts, while Latin artists like Ricky Martin and Shakira gained global followings. By working to elevate these genres and artists, poptimism justified itself in the progressive ideals of diversity and inclusivity. — W. David Marx, Blank Space, 120

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the reader’s earlier article on ‘Complaints About Immodesty’ — both trace how cultural taste debates get absorbed into identity/political signaling. — connects to: Music writers’ disclaimers of theory mirror rock bands’ anti-intellectual mantras and reinforce consumerism — Mark Fisher (edited by Darren Ambrose), K-Punk: The Collected and Unpublished…, 1212; The popist-versus-indie music rivalry mirrors class politics as a phoney war — Mark Fisher (edited by Darren Ambrose), K-Punk: The Collected and Unpublished…, 1212