THE VINTAGE ESCAPE: GEN Z, AI, AND THE SEARCH FOR AUTHENTICITY
Resmi Anie Mathew
Independent Researcher, Kerala
Abstract: The rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into everyday life has transformed work, communication, and leisure, delivering unprecedented convenience and efficiency. Tasks that once demanded significant time and effort are now completed swiftly, with digital platforms placing vast resources within immediate reach. Yet, despite these advancements, recent years—particularly in the post-COVID era—have witnessed a notable revival of analog culture. Vintage cafés, record stores, retro photo booths, and independent bookstores are increasingly popular, attracting visitors who seek experiences once considered obsolete. This trend is especially prominent among Generation Z, a cohort widely recognized as digitally native. This paradox raises important questions: Why does a generation deeply immersed in technological progress actively pursue analog practices? Does this resurgence signal saturation and fatigue with digital environments, or does it reveal the limitations of AI in providing emotional fulfillment, authenticity, and social connection? Current observations suggest that analog spaces offer sensory engagement, nostalgia, and community interactions that digital systems struggle to replicate. This paper explores the revival of retro culture as both a response to digital saturation and a means of identity negotiation in the AI era. By analyzing Gen Z’s engagement with analog practices, the research investigates whether these trends represent resistance to overwhelming technological influence, a search for emotional well-being, or the development of a hybrid cultural paradigm that balances digital efficiency with analog authenticity.
Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Analog Culture, Generation Z, Digital Saturation, Post-COVID Era, Retro Culture, Nostalgia, Cultural Identity
Read full manuscript PDF