Subterranean Pop and Contemporary Art: A Critique of Mainstream Culture

Christian Caliandro reflects on Francesco Pacifico's February 2021 article on CheFare, which argues that contemporary authors, artists, and intellectuals have abandoned experimentation and civil engagement, instead acting as 'shepherds' guiding audiences toward the mainstream. Pacifico contends that since the 1980s, creators have abdicated their public role, feigning the relevance of past figures like Moravia and Pasolini while self-censoring to maintain institutional positions. Caliandro connects this to contemporary art, noting that the same dynamics of self-censorship and likeability apply. He then explores the historical phenomenon of 'subterranean pop' music (late 1970s–early 2000s) as a parallel: bands like U2, Depeche Mode, Nirvana, and Björk emerged from underground subcultures to achieve global success, driven by favorable economic conditions (golden age of the record industry), media platforms like MTV, strong subcultural movements (grunge, hip-hop, techno), and cross-disciplinary integration. This era ended with the internet, long-tail fragmentation, and social networks. The article was published on Artribune on August 2021.