The reason why contemporary dissent from the mainstream is different from historical dissent from the mainstream is that the latter was done by and done for the interests of a class on the rise, the bourgeoisie, while contemporary dissent is overwhelmingly embraced not by a class with any sort of direct or indirect power, like in the past, but rather by the dregs of society, who became dissenting elements exactly because they became the dregs of their society, not because they believed they were owed even more power by the old elites, like the bourgeoisie believed in the past.

I feel like this is also why our culture is stagnant like a swamp, the interesting cultural dynamics of old were driven in no small part by the rivalization between the aristocracy and the bourgeoisie throughout the centuries, while there is no such dynamic pressure in the current system at all because the elite is completely untouchable and the dregs are completely powerless.