Even though 2026 just began, 2016 seems to be the year everyone wants to be in.
The phrase “2016 is the new 2026” has felt unavoidable since New Year’s Day 2026; cemented through celebrities posting 2016 throwbacks, 2016 influencers feeding into the trend, and music from 2016 charting globally. Even though most people participating in this trend online wouldn’t have even been teenagers in 2016, they’re revisiting it through media, music, and art from the time; Zara Larsson’s “Lush Life” re-entered the Billboard Hot 100, 10 years after the song debuted. The Journal covered 2016 pop culture extensively; with articles ranging from the juicing health trend to a comparison between Donald Trump and rotting groceries. Given the trend, it’s worth taking a trip down memory lane to explore The Journal’s 2016 Arts & Culture stories.
Some things seemed to have stayed at Queen’s; like the stereotype that all arts majors are lazy, an ideology rooted in hustle culture which values monetary productivity over creativity. Alternatively, some remain capsules of their time, like this article on students growing their own cannabis for medicinal purposes—two years before cannabis consumption was legalized in Canada. I guess we really were ahead of our time.
The way these articles have aged; some still relevant, some not; reflects how unpredictable the past decade has been for the world. Stereotypes around arts students are slowly starting to fade due to the decline of hustle culture, and countries around the world have changed their perspectives on the use of Cannabis for both medical and personal use.
The “clean girl” of the 2020s would cringe out at some of the winter beauty trends of the time, like dark lipstick, graphic liners, and this quick morning after routine. But maybe these tips will be helpful now that the clean girl is out, and these trends are finding their way out from the crypt.
Another common thread between 2026 and 2016 Journal Archives, was the questioning of celebrity feminism; then for its lack of inclusivity and impact, now for how it often feels exploitative and performative. While the merit of some tips may be debatable, an article I believe is extremely useful today is this list of wines under $20 CAD, with most suggestions on the list still being under $20 CAD today!
A large part of the nostalgia for 2016 has to do with many considering the year to be “simpler;” the internet was a lot more casual, celebrity interactions didn’t feel forced, and Twitter was still a liberal haven six years before it became whatever X is now.
Putting up a post on social media didn’t need as much thought, celebrities didn’t have highly trained social media teams to limit fan interaction, and posts going “viral” were often used to mock the target of the post followed by an appearance on the Ellen Show and a return to irrelevancy, rather than foundation to build a career in conservative media.
We cringe at millennials now, but we can’t ignore the role they played in the simplicity we’re craving from a decade ago. Back then, the skinny-jeans-clad, mustache-obsessed generation’s tendency to be quirky and silly became behaviour mocked by gen z, obsessed with being non-chalant.
Maybe this is the root of our modern, un-serious approach to 2016 nostalgia.
Tags
2016, Archives, Culture, flashback, Pop Culture, The Journal, The Queen’s Journal, throwback, trend
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