Meaning: The quote "Here we are in the 70's when everything really is horrible and it really stinks. The mass media, everything on television everything everywhere is just rotten. You know it's just really boring and really evil, ugly and worse." by Lester Bangs, a prominent music journalist and critic, reflects a sentiment of disillusionment and dissatisfaction with the state of popular culture and media during the 1970s. Lester Bangs was known for his candid and often controversial opinions on music, culture, and society, and this quote captures his unapologetically negative outlook on the prevailing cultural landscape of his time.

During the 1970s, the mass media, including television and print publications, played a significant role in shaping public opinion and disseminating information. However, Bangs' quote suggests that he believed the media of that era was saturated with content that he found to be uninspiring, morally corrupt, and devoid of genuine artistic or intellectual value. His use of words such as "horrible," "stinks," "rotten," "boring," "evil," "ugly," and "worse" conveys a strong sense of disdain and disappointment with the prevalent cultural offerings.

It is important to consider the historical context in which Bangs made this statement. The 1970s was a decade marked by significant social and political upheaval, including the continuation of the Vietnam War, the Watergate scandal, economic downturns, and a general sense of disillusionment among the American populace. These broader societal tensions likely influenced Bangs' perspective on the media and popular culture, as he may have viewed them as reflective of the larger societal malaise.

Bangs' status as a prominent music critic also sheds light on his perspective. As a champion of alternative and underground music, he may have felt that the mainstream media of the 1970s was failing to adequately represent or engage with the innovative and boundary-pushing musical movements that were emerging during that time. His critique of "everything on television" and "everything everywhere" could be interpreted as a rejection of the homogenized and commercialized nature of mainstream media content, which he believed was devoid of authenticity and artistic merit.

In addition to his critique of the media, Bangs' quote also reflects a broader skepticism towards the prevailing cultural norms and values of the 1970s. His use of words such as "evil" and "ugly" suggests a moral dimension to his critique, indicating that he perceived the cultural products of the time as not only aesthetically lacking but also morally bankrupt.

It is worth noting that Bangs was known for his provocative and contrarian writing style, and his critiques were often deliberately confrontational and incendiary. While his assessment of the 1970s media landscape may have been colored by his personal biases and preferences, his work remains influential for its uncompromising and unapologetic approach to cultural criticism.

In conclusion, Lester Bangs' quote encapsulates a stark and uncompromising assessment of the mass media and popular culture during the 1970s. His words convey a deep sense of disillusionment and dissatisfaction with the prevailing cultural offerings, reflecting broader societal tensions and a rejection of mainstream values. While his perspective may have been controversial, it remains a thought-provoking commentary on the intersection of media, culture, and society during a tumultuous period in history.