Part 9/14:
The commentary critiques how the internet's rise led to the commodification and parody of this culture—shifting from genuine expression to viral memes and online mockery, exemplified by parody videos and public manifests like NPR tiny desk performances that became emblematic of the era's surreality.
The hosts lament the loss of subcultural authenticity, noting how social media inflates trends and erodes genuine niche communities. They joke about the media's tendency to frame these cultural moments as "cringe," despite their cultural significance at the time.